Accomplice admits role in bank theft

Computer "spyware" was used to get $12,000 out of a Westpac Bank customer's account in an internet transaction, a court has been told.

A 22-year-old sickness beneficiary appeared in Christchurch District Court yesterday and admitted two charges of dishonestly accessing a computer system.

Police told Judge Colin Doherty that Christopher Dean Lees had been approached by a co-offender who offered to pay Lee to use his Kiwibank account to receive a fraudulent payment.

On May 12 last year, a Westpac account was accessed by the co-offender on the internet using a program which logged key strokes, including passwords.

A payment was loaded and $12,000 paid from the Westpac account into Lees' account. The next day, Lees was caught on surveillance video withdrawing $9400 at Auckland Post Shops.

Lees also admitted other charges including unlawfully interfering with a vehicle and trespass.

Judge Doherty remanded him in custody for a probation report, reparation report and sentence next Thursday.

- NZPA