Malaysian student accused of owing US$2.4m after Australian bank accidentally gave her the overdraft
The 21-year-old spent most of the money on luxury items including handbags
A Malaysian student has been charged in a Sydney court with dishonesty offences after a bank accidentally gave her a A$4.6 million Australian dollar (HK$26.3 million) overdraft four years ago.
Christine Lee Jiaxin was 17 years old and had been living in Sydney for a year when Westpac Banking Corp made the expensive mistake in 2012, the Waverley Local Court was told on Thursday.
She was arrested at Sydney Airport on Wednesday night as she tried to fly to Malaysia still owing A$3.3 million spent on what her lawyer described as luxury items including handbags. The rest of the money had been recovered.
An arrest warrant was issued for the 21-year-old chemical engineering student in March for taking advantage of the bank’s mistake.
She was released on bail after she appeared in court charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. Lee did not enter pleas.
Magistrate Lisa Stapleton questioned whether the latter would stick.