New Zealander charged with stealing millions
January 5th, 2012 - 3:41 pm ICT by IANSWellington, Jan 5 (IANS) A New Zealander who was extradited from Hong Kong last month in connection with one of the country’s most high-profile theft cases was denied bail and remanded in custody Thursday, reports Xinhua.
Hui Gao, 30, a Chinese-New Zealander, also known as Leo Gao, has been facing 16 charges of theft and two of money laundering since his return to New Zealand Dec 21.
Radio New Zealand reported that Gao appeared in the Rotorua district court Thursday for a bail hearing.
He did not enter a plea and he was remanded in custody to reappear Jan 23, said the report.
Gao is accused of stealing about 6.7 million NZ dollars (about $5 million) from the Westpac Bank in 2009 after an overdraft of 10 million NZ dollars was mistakenly added to his bank account.
Police allege he transferred the money into other accounts before he and his then-partner Kara Hurring left New Zealand.
Gao was arrested in Hong Kong in September last year and was kept in custody there during extradition proceedings.
His return followed a two-and-half years of police investigations.
Hurring, 32, was arrested on related charges when she re-entered New Zealand earlier last year. She is due to stand trial this year.
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Tags: 10 million, 5 million, extradition proceedings, gao, half years, high profile, hong kong, leo, money laundering, nz dollars, overdraft, plea, police investigations, radio new zealand, rotorua district, wellington, westpac bank, xinhua