Cash-happy ATM lands man life in prison

[TheGuru]

A man in China's southern city of Guangzhou has been jailed for life for taking funds from a malfunctioning ATM, local media reported on Tuesday.
In April last year, Xu Ting let his friend in on his secret that the ATM deducted only 1 yuan from his account for every 1,000 yuan withdrawn.

"Xu subsequently withdrew 175,000 yuan (12,000 pounds) in 171 transactions while Guo withdrew 18,000 yuan," the Beijing News reported.
Guo was jailed for a year after turning himself in while Xu remained on the run for a year before being apprehended and sentenced to life for theft.

The sentence has sparked an outcry from local media.
"Sentenced to life for unexpectedly discovering an ATM's malfunction and enticed into committing a crime is too harsh," the Beijing News said in an editorial.

Xu's lawyer said the ATM was the responsibility of the bank and it had had ample time to recover the lost funds. Xu's actions should come under the lesser charge of embezzlement, it added.

Xu has appealed against his sentence.

I cant believe that he made 171 transactions he doesnt deserve a life sentence though

[Waldo]

.... and who wouldn't take advantage if that sort of thing happened at an ATM? You hear - although not very often - about people getting out more money than they asked for, and how many of them rush into the bank shouting "here's your money back, you gave me too much?"

A life sentence really is far too harsh a sentence for this.

[TheGuru]

Originally Posted by Waldo

.... and who wouldn't take advantage if that sort of thing happened at an ATM? You hear - although not very often - about people getting out more money than they asked for, and how many of them rush into the bank shouting "here's your money back, you gave me too much?"

A life sentence really is far too harsh a sentence for this.

I'd have a couple of withdrawals, but 171 was pushing it a bit

[smartsez]

if i thought i'd get away with it i might be a bit trigger happy! lol!