WORLD BRIEFING / NEW ZEALAND
Two New Zealanders whose bank mistakenly deposited the equivalent of $6.1 million into their account took some of the money and ran, police said.
Authorities launched an international search for the couple, who operated a gas station in the northern city of Rotorua. Westpac Bank said it considered the money stolen.
The two applied to Westpac for a $6,000 overdraft, but 1,000 times that amount was paid into their account. They then withdrew some of the money and disappeared, Det. Senior Sgt. David Harvey said.
Westpac conceded that human error was responsible for making the couple accidental millionaires. Authorities did not release their identities.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
