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Police today conceded an accused conman and his partner being sought over a sex attack may well have fled the country.
New Zealander Paul James Bennett, 45 and Simone Wright, 31, are wanted for indecently assaulting a teenage Auckland girl.
Police also wish to talk to the pair about frauds committed in New Zealand and Bennett is suspected of frauds in Australia.
North Shore CIB Detective John Gilbert said the duo were hard to track down as they used multiple identities.
"Because he, in particular, has in the past had a number of identities and a number of passports in different names, it's entirely possible he has a new identity and passport.
"There's ways you can leave the country without a passport too. So whether he's here or not, we don't know.
"You do what you can, you put the border alerts out, you tell different authorities and ask them to look out for them. You try to catch them in the net."
A warrant for their arrest was issued on June 23. Mr Gilbert said it was possible, if highly unlikely, they were unaware police were after them.
"It's possible if they haven't seen the news. But it's very unlikely because, with the inquiries I've made, by now they will know I'm seeking them."
Exploits attributed to Bennett include conning his way into a job as actor Russell Crowe's helicopter pilot - despite not holding a licence - and claiming to have worked for the CIA.
The pair are wanted for questioning on frauds believed to involve hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Bennett was born in Morrinsville and has a long history of eluding police, here and abroad.
He once slipped through the fingers of Australian police after putting up a stolen Porsche and helicopter as surety while facing fraud charges, reports say.
He has served jail time in the UK and Australia, where he is still wanted.
- NZPA
