BOXES filled with more than $HK15 million ($2.4 million) in cash spilt out of an armoured van onto a
major Hong Kong highway, sparking a frenzy as drivers and passers-by
tried as much as possible to get their hands on the notes.
 |
| Traffic stopped on Gloucester Road as Drivers and Passers-by grab some cash |
Traffic ground to a halt on Gloucester Road in central Hong Kong as
taxi drivers rushed out of their cars to make a grab for the hundreds
of banknotes scattered over the busy multi-lane highway. An eyewitness told South China Morning Post that they saw “a
regular-looking Hong Kong lady” with “an armful of bricks of cash. It
was as much as she could carry. She just disappeared into the depths of
Wan Chai.” However police chief inspector Addy Li Chi-kin warned
that anyone who found banknotes should return them immediately, or be
arrested for theft.
Two people have already been detained after officers found about $HK165,000 in cash under one of their beds. Inspector Addy Li Chi-kin said about $HK5.69 million has been
recovered after 30 persons surrendered the banknotes, but most is
missing. Officers are reviewing CCTV footage and taking the licence
plates of vehicles present at the time of the incident.
 |
| One of the Individuals seen on CCTV taking cash at the scene |
The bizarre incident unfolded on Christmas Eve after a money transport van owned by securities firm G4S began spilling cash. The van was transporting HK$525 million in cash, divided into boxes.
Police
Superintendent Wan Siu-hung said the driver of the van made it all the
way to his destination, a half-hour’s drive away, oblivious to the fact
that his back door was open and the cash boxes had fallen out. “When
it (the van) arrived at its destination they discovered that the door
was open,” Wan told reporters, adding that police would use the serial
numbers of the bills to conduct an investigation.
Bank of China, which hired G4S to deliver the banknotes, said in a
statement that the security service company promised to pay for the
losses. “G4S has apologised for the incident and will hold liable
to all the losses incurred based upon the contract engaged with BOCHK,”
the statement said, Legal experts told local media that people who
kept the banknotes would be committing larceny and could face up to 10
years in jail.
SOURCE - News.Com.Au
No comments:
Post a Comment