Moneychanger recovers only one of 3,000 RM50 notes that flew out at BKE

When a Malaysian moneychanger realised he had lost about RM150,000 (S$53,300) on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) on Monday, he rushed back.

But by the time Mr Jihad Dudden Shaik Ali Khan, 24, got there on his motorcycle, he could see only one man picking up the last few notes.

The moneychanger of more than three years told Malaysian newspaper Harian Metro on Wednesday: "I approached the man, but he ran away from me and got away with about RM200.

"I was only able to pick up a single RM50 note which the man left behind while he was running away."

FLEW OUT OF BAG

Mr Jihad said that about 3,000 RM50 notes had flown out of his bag when he was on the BKE after he had crossed the Causeway from Johor Baru. His bag had been left open.

"At about 6.20pm on Monday, I was on the way to meet a customer at Orchard Road," he said.

"But when I got there, I found that my bag zip was wide open and a portion of the money was missing."

Mr Jihad, who did not reveal how much money had been in the bag, said his father phoned him about five minutes later to tell him that motorists had been seen picking up RM50 notes on the expressway.

"He also told me that there was a possibility it was my money."

That was when he rode back to the BKE. Harian Metro reported that Mr Jihad made a police report in Singapore at about 8.30pm on Monday.

THE NEW PAPER, Aug 05

 

The New Paper reported on Wednesday that hundreds of RM50 notes appeared out of nowhere along a stretch of the BKE, fluttering in the air before landing on the expressway.

The unusual occurrence sparked chaos and traffic congestion as motorists stopped to grab a share of the unexpected windfall.

A video, which has gone viral, shows vehicles stopping by the side of the BKE - some even in the middle of the lanes - and their occupants dashing out to pocket the money.

Lawyer James Ow Yong from Kalco Law LLC said that pocketing the money could be considered an offence.

He said: "If the owner is not known (to the individuals who picked up the money) and no reasonable steps are taken to locate him, the 'finder' may be liable for either dishonest misappropriation of property or fraudulent possession of property."

Anyone convicted of these offences can face a jail term, or a fine, or both.

- David Sun