Police hunt couple who fled with bank windfall

Police are looking for a New Zealand couple who disappeared after a bank mistakenly put NZ$10m (€4.38m) into their account.

The couple, who ran a petrol station in the northern city of Rotorua, applied to Westpac Bank for a NZ$9,964 (€4,367) overdraft and had 1,000 times that amount paid into their account.

The two then withdrew some of the money and disappeared, Det Senior Sgt David Harvey said.

Det Sen Sgt Harvey said Interpol has been contacted for help, suggesting authorities believe they may have fled abroad with the cash.

“We are currently conducting an investigation into the individuals that may have been involved in the withdrawal of that money,” Det Sen Sgt Harvey said.

Westpac Bank said in a statement it was “pursing vigorous criminal and civil action to recover the sum of money stolen,” but declined further comment.