Police confident of catching runaway millionaires

The front page of the <i>Herald on Sunday</i> two weeks ago.

Police say they are still confident of catching accidental millionaire Leo Gao and his partner Kara Hurring despite no sightings of them for a month.

Rotorua police have been pursuing the pair since they fled to Hong Kong after a Westpac banking error saw $10 million transferred to Rotorua businessman Mr Gao's account. He had asked for a $100,000 overdraft.

Most of the money has been recovered but $3.8 million is still unaccounted for.

Officer-in-charge Detective Scott Thompson said he was confident it was only a matter of time before the pair were apprehended.

Rotorua police had prepared a "mutual assistance" request to the Chinese Government, which was now at the Interpol Bureau in Wellington.

New Zealand police were also working with the police liaison officer in Beijing.

Westpac spokesman Craig Dowling said the bank was continuing to try and recover the outstanding money although he would not give details, as to do so could jeopardise the investigation.

"It's hard to know what the ultimate outcome will be at this stage."

- NZPA