Police praise for Pakistani who found businessman’s Dh50,000

Dr Adel Mohammad, Director of Al Muraqqabat Police Station, gives a recognition of honesty award to Mohammad Alem. Victor Besa for The National

DUBAI // Mohammed Alem has been praised for his honesty after handing Dh50,000 he found on a bank cash machine to the police.

After finding the money while using the ATM, the Pakistani, 25, took it and went to the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, a Sudanese businessman lodged a police report that he had lost money while trying to deposit Dh150,000 at the ATM.

“The businessman had placed the Dh50,000 on top of an ATM because he could only deposit a certain amount at a time,” said Col Adel Al Suwaidy, director of Al Muraqqabat Police Station.

“He took Dh100,000 and tried to deposit it in the machine, which wouldn’t accept the money. So he moved to another ATM and forgot about the Dh50,000.”

Col Al Suwaidy said his officers thanked Mr Alem for his honesty. “Brother Alem is a supervisor at a construction company and earns Dh3,500 – a very modest income,” he said.

“We wanted to honour him for his honesty and show that safety in the country is important to UAE residents just as much as it is to the authorities.”

Mr Alem, whose wife and two children live in Pakistan, said he was very happy to be thanked by the officers, adding that it was his duty as a Muslim to be honest.

“I would never take money that does not belong to me, it would be tainted. I wish to earn my money honourably,” he said.

Mr Alem is not the only honest person to hand over large sums of lost cash to the police.

More than Dh125,000 was returned to its owner after being taken to Al Muraqqabat Police Station, said Col Suwaidy, adding that separate sums of US$24,792 (Dh91,038) and €825 (Dh3,427) were also returned.