By Choi Kyong-ae

A deputy manager at Woori Bank’s Yeoido outlet in Seoul stole 2 billion won (US$1.8 million) from a customer and fled to Australia, the bank said Monday.

“On Friday, the deputy manager sent the money to a local bank in Australia and left Korea the same day to meet his wife and son there via Singapore,” a Woori Bank spokesman said.

Half of the stolen money was recovered Friday and an official from Woori Bank’s inspection team was sent to Australia to meet with him and try and make him return, the bank said.

“We will ask him to turn himself in when we meet him. But he will be dismissed immediately after he comes back to Korea, and questioned by police,” the spokesman said.

As for the reason he stole the money, Woori Bank said it had no idea, merely noting that he was a quiet working man.

“It is hard to understand why he sent the money to his bank account in Australia. It was easily traceable,” he said.