# NZ couple gets unexpected windfall, flees country **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149 "2009-05-21T08:11:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/61 "2009-05-22T19:28:37Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > [Incorrect](http://www.uslaw.com/library/International_Law/Extradition_Brazil_United_StatesPedro_Paulo_dos_Santos.php?item=6847):The extradition treaty[5] between the United States and Brazil was signed on January 13, 1961, with a protocol[6] being signed on June 18, 1062; both entered into force on December 17, 1964. The treaty contains a laundry list of offenses for which extradition can be had, including such crimes as malicious wounding, bigamy, arson, piracy, malicious destruction of infrastructure, counterfeiting, embezzlement, larceny, fraud, bribery, bankruptcy fraud, drug trafficking, and smuggling, among many others. They are from New Zealand, the country Heinlein hated on sight. Therefore, uh-uh. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/62 "2009-05-22T21:44:32Z")
Fair enough, but since you were the one to make the claim in the first place… Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/63 "2009-05-22T23:23:03Z")
This link > **[Runaway millionaires named - may have fled to Asia - NZ Herald](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/runaway-millionaires-named-may-have-fled-to-asia/VBCDFRFGT3DA3TZYY4QOPYMSC4/?c_id=1&objectid=10573570)** > > Stay updated on the latest crime news, police investigations and court cases with NZ Herald. Explore stories that matter in law and order was in post #1 in this Thread. From the _New Zealand Herald_ > [@](#): > > Interpol is leading a worldwide hunt for the Rotorua couple who have fled with millions of dollars worth of Westpac’s money. > > The couple, who ran Rotorua’s BP Barnetts service station on Old Taupo Road, are Leo Gao and Australian girlfriend Cara Young. Obvoiusly, they are New Zealanders. ---
**Author:** ![firstname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@firstname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/firstname)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/64 "2009-05-22T23:48:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Neighbouring business Zero to 100 Automotive director Tania Davis says the BP was owned by an Asian man nicknamed “Leo” who had a New Zealand girlfriend. Well seems like at least one of them is. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/65 "2009-05-23T00:21:22Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > If they get busted what would they be charged with? The bank put the money in their account. Theft, I assume. If the law in New Zealand is the same as here in Australia, if someone mistakenly gives you money (like handing you a $50 note instead of a $5 when giving you change) and you go out of your way to stop them from fixing that mistake (by legging it), that is considered theft. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/66 "2009-05-23T00:38:26Z")
Since the news report that part of the money has been recovered, couldn’t that mean that they withdrew the money electronically and transferred them to possibly different foreign accounts, and the bank has been able to trace and recover some of the money that way? That takes care of the cash problem and might explain how some was recovered. That said, I have pretty much no clue how international banking works and which safeguards and tracking/recovery mechanisms are available. I am just guessing that there are probably some places where the money can be transferred out of reach of the bank. ---
**Author:** ![ILovCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@ILovCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILovCoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/67 "2009-05-23T02:01:43Z")
Well, I would also point out the error to the bank. Because if you spend it then they ding you it is a royal headache to come up with the loot. Someone else’s AMEX payment was credited to my account. I called them up and told them to get it out/off my account. Of course, if it had happened when I was 20 and not when I was 25 it would have been another story. Did that make any sense? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/68 "2009-05-23T03:02:29Z")
> [@firstname](#): > > Well seems like at least one of them is. The fact that he’s of Asian appearance, and has an Asian name, doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not also a New Zealander. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/69 "2009-05-23T03:42:28Z")
What difference does it make? They broke the law in New Zealand. Whether they’re little green aliens NZ will try to extradite them back to try them there. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/70 "2009-05-23T10:48:50Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > This constant flow of puns is really baaaaaaad. Says ewe. (OK, I’ll sheepishly creep away now…) ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/71 "2009-05-23T14:28:12Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Says ewe. > (OK, I’ll sheepishly creep away now…) That comment was a little beee lllaaattttedd. Do try to come up with em faster 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![firstname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@firstname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/firstname)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/72 "2009-05-24T01:38:15Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > The fact that he’s of Asian appearance, and has an Asian name, doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not also a New Zealander. My joke was on the inconsistency. From the article **Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor** linked, the girlfriend’s nationality is listed as Australian then Kiwi. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/73 "2009-05-24T06:27:32Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > If they get busted what would they be charged with? The bank put the money in their account. Reminds me of that awesome Patrick Combs story - he deposited one of those fake checks he got in the mail. The story is long but worth it. The next page links are text and very tiny, at the very bottom of each page (hard to miss). [http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/29/man-1-bank-0/](http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/29/man-1-bank-0/) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/74 "2009-05-24T13:15:15Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > Reminds me of that awesome Patrick Combs story - he deposited one of those fake checks he got in the mail. [You don’t say?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11168835&postcount=60) ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nz-couple-gets-unexpected-windfall-flees-country/497149/75 "2009-05-24T14:17:57Z")
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