Westpac worker fears axe over multi-million dollar error

Photo / Kenny Rodger

A Westpac Bank employee who accidentally let Leo Gao access millions believes she will be sacked this week.

The woman in early May credited Mr Gao's account with a $10 million overdraft when he had asked for just $100,000.

Mr Gao and his partner, Kara Hurring, skipped the country for Hong Kong and remain on the run.

Westpac has recovered some of the money but $3.8 million remains outstanding.

The woman initially took stress leave but had since returned to work. However, the bank had told her to take more time off, Fairfax Media reported.

She had been called to a meeting at Westpac's operational support centre in Christchurch this week and expected to lose her job, a source told the newspaper.

"She said 'they are going to try to manage me out', and that's exactly what's happening," the source said.

The woman had more than 30 years banking experience and the mistake - essentially a misplaced decimal point - had been "highly, highly upsetting" for her.

"It's very disappointing the bank is hanging her out to dry. It's phenomenal she's being treated like this mistakes like this happen all the time in the banking industry.

"The only reason she's getting it in the neck is because the arsehole took off with the money. Systems should have been in place to protect her and they obviously aren't, which is the frustrating thing."

Westpac said it would not comment on individual employment matters.

"Where there is, or potentially has been, a breach, or breaches, of bank policies and/or procedures, we do have a very fair and robust investigation and disciplinary process which takes account of employee feedback and those of their representatives before any decision is reached."

Meanwhile, the newspaper said Ms Hurring had told a friend she was considering giving evidence against Mr Gao and would "be home soon".

- NZPA