Iraqi refugee in Berlin praised for handing over cash find
Image copyright AFP Image caption The handbag containing €14,000 (£12,400; $16,800) was left on board a subway by its 79-year-old owner
Berlin police have praised an Iraqi refugee who handed in a handbag she found containing €14,000 (£12,400; $16,800).
The bag was left on a U-Bahn (subway) train last Friday night by a 78-year-old woman.
Moments after leaving it, she realised her mistake and told train authorities, but they were unable to trace the bag.
It had been found by a 16-year-old Iraqi student, who told her mother. Two days later they handed it in.
On Tuesday, Berlin police tweeted their praise:
Skip Twitter post by @polizeiberlin
Schülerin fand in @BVG_Ubahn eine Handtasche mit 14000 € ?Abgegeben beim #A47 ?Besitzerin #happy ?Wir sagen #topp und #Danke^tsm
— Polizei Berlin (@polizeiberlin) September 19, 2017 Report
End of Twitter post by @polizeiberlin
“A student found a handbag with €14,000 and handed it over to police. The owner is happy. We say excellent and thank you,” it said.
The family, who live in a refugee centre, are likely to receive a reward for their honesty, say German media.
Under German law, the applicable reward is three percent for objects or money turned in – though this is halved if the valuables are found on public transport. That would leave the family with a €210 reward.
