A New Zealand couple who fled the country after receiving millions of dollars in a banking error may have had a 16-day head start on police.
It also emerged the couple may now be in China, and that other family members were also missing.
The unnamed couple, believed to be Asian man "Leo" Gao, perhaps in his 30s, and his Kiwi girlfriend Kara (or Cara) Young, have not been seen since $NZ10 million was mistakenly deposited into their account after they applied for a $NZ10,000 business overdraft.
The $NZ10 million was first deposited in the account on or about May 5, but police only announced it was investigating the matter yesterday - 16 days later - the New Zealand Herald reported.
Police would not say when Westpac first reported the missing money.
Mr Gao and his girlfriend reportedly left the country after abandoning his service station on Old Taupo Road in Rotorua, NZPA said.
The service station closed so suddenly that motorists were still driving in to fill up thinking it was open, it said.
Other members of Mr Gao's family were also missing, NZPA said.
While police could not say where the couple may have gone, local media said a police officer involved working on the case had been sent to China, it said.
Mr Gao lived in a house close to the service station with other family members. The unoccupied, furnished house has been for sale for $NZ220,000 since October.
Neighbouring business owner Helaine Aim said she was friends with the couple, who she referred to as "Leo" and "Kara" and saw them daily.
Mrs Aim, who owns St Andrews Bakery, said she last saw them two weeks ago. "I would go and have coffee with them at their house. They told me they were planning a holiday."
This is one case of an "all expenses" paid holiday subsidised by their bank. Unfortunately for the rest of us, banks don't often subsidise such holidays.
