A New Zealand man who fled with his girlfriend after receiving millions of dollars in a banking error is described by friends as an unsuccessful businessman whose main aim was to get rich quick.

An international search is underway for Leo Gao, a Korean national, and his girlfriend Cara Young, a New Zealander, who disappeared two weeks ago after finding their bank account had mistakenly been credited with $6.1 million.

Chevi Lambert, owner of the neighbouring business Andy’s Cellar told The Times that Gao “dreamt of getting rich.”

“He talked to me about his dreams and ventures,” Ms Lambert said. “His one big dream was to make money. He bought a fish and chip shop next door to the garage and wanted to make it into a Chinese fish and chip shop. But he didn’t do anything about it.”

It is understood the couple, who ran a failing service station in Rotorua, on North Island, had applied to Westpac Bank for a loan of $61,000 but were given 100 times that amount instead.

The young couple, who are in their mid-twenties, told friends they were going on vacation but instead left the country.

Their car was found abandoned at Auckland airport and the police believe they have fled to China. Interpol and New Zealand police are focussing their search on Beijing and on Hong Kong.

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