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SYDNEY - The Westpac Bank has won orders against a customer to return A$11 ($12.94) million accidentally transferred into his account, plus A$3.7 million in interest.
The banking giant took real estate agent Victor Ollis to the NSW Supreme Court over the money, which was mistakenly transferred into his business account.
Mr Ollis, of Kempsey, on the NSW mid-north coast, had an automatic transfer facility which topped up the business account from his personal account.
The top-ups should have ceased in February 2004 after his personal account became overdrawn, but a computer glitch allowed replenishment to continue, using Westpac's own funds.
Between June and December 2005 the bank honoured cheques issued by Mr Ollis totalling A$11 million before they realised the error.
Westpac also sued Mr Ollis' partner Gail Shields over A$4.8 million he transferred to her.
Justice Clifford Einstein today found in favour of Westpac, saying Mr Ollis' "unconscionable" conduct was "not merely amoral, it was dishonest".
He ordered Mr Ollis to repay a total A$14,692,968.03 to Westpac.
An argument on costs, and additional interest to be calculated, will be decided next Wednesday, September 6.
- AAP
