19 Nov 2014

No jail for gambler after bank mistake

6:44 pm on 19 November 2014

An Auckland man who went on a gambling spree after more than $100,000 was accidentally transferred into his bank account has escaped a jail term.

Mehdi Soheili has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 200 hours of community work when he appeared at the Auckland District Court.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to spending just over $104,000 at SkyCity Casino after just over $141,000 was mistakenly put into his account on 13 November last year.

It wasn't until a week later that the bank noticed the error and froze his account.

The judge ordered Soheili to pay back the remaining $103,000 he owed the bank, acknowledging that he had already paid back almost $2500.

The man had also been ordered to take part in a gambling programme and undergo counselling.