Man leaves $1.28 million dollars at Sydney restaurant

sydney

Australian police are looking for a good explanation of why someone would walk into a Sydney eatery, exit in a seeming panic--and leave a suitcase containing more than a million dollars behind.

The seemingly inadvertent money drop occurred at an Italian bistro named Café Marco. On Tuesday morning a causally dressed man entered the establishment, and didn't really settle into the Café Marco experience before heading back out the door--minus the suitcase "full of money."

Investigating officers in Sydney report that the luggage in question contained "a significant amount of cash"--roughly $1.28 million in $50 bills. However, police have not yet arrived at a full estimate of the suitcase's cash content--for the simple reason that they're still counting it.

Detective Inspector Ian Pryde told reporters that witnesses described the man as Asian, and his age around 30. He was wearing surfing shorts and a wrestling singlet when he walked into the café. Witnesses reportedly told the cops that the man appeared "to get spooked" and left without the money.

At first, the two owners of the café thought the suitcase was a bomb and moved it out of the way of customers until the police arrived. Police say they now have in custody a 49-year-old man fitting the general description--and that they're preparing to question him about the case of the abandoned cash.

Other popular Yahoo! News stories:

• Celebrate Thanksgiving by watching Lady Gaga deep-fry waffles

•Video: Kitten wrestling

• The Coca-Cola drinks you won't find in U.S. stores

Continue Reading... Labels: $1.28, dollars, leaves, million, restaurant, Sydney

Nurse charged over Sydney blaze

19 November 2011 Last updated at 02:57 ET

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressed her sorrow at the "truly horrifying" blaze

A nurse has been charged with murder following Friday's fire at a Sydney nursing home that killed five elderly residents, Australian police say.

Roger Dean, 35, appeared via video link at Parramatta court, from local cells, but said nothing and was remanded into custody until next week.

More than 30 people injured in the fire at the Quakers Hill Nursing Home remain in hospital, some in intensive care.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard called it "a very dark day".

"To imagine the frail, elderly people caught up in a fire like that, at risk of being engulfed by flames, is truly horrifying," she said.

"My condolences go to the families who have lost loved ones and to those whose loved ones are now in hospital and who are with them and awaiting news of their condition."

Officials say it was the worst nursing home fire in Sydney in decades.

New South Wales police said Mr Dean was arrested soon after the blaze, following a thorough investigation at the scene.

"All I can say is that last night detectives were speaking to the man at Mount Druitt Police Station, where they formed the opinion that they had sufficient evidence to place him under arrest," said Superintendent Michael Willing, who is leading the case.

It has been reported that police suspect the fire broke out in two separate wings of the facility.

Mr Dean was held on Friday and charged with four counts of murder. The fifth victim died later.

'Worst nightmare'

During the fire, hundreds of fire fighters battled the flames and plumes of thick smoke, which engulfed the home. About 100 elderly residents were later evacuated from the building.

"This has been a very, very serious fire, a tragic scene - a lot of people injured," Fire and Rescue New South Wales Commissioner Greg Mullins told reporters.

He described the blaze as a firefighter's "worst nightmare".

"Crews had to literally crawl on their hands and knees into every room in the complex, reach up under the beds, searching cupboards, anywhere where someone may have crawled away."

TV pictures later showed a number of elderly residents lying in beds or sitting in wheelchairs just outside the building.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, while another died in hospital overnight and a fifth died on Saturday.

Are you in the area? You can send your comments to the BBC using the form below:

Continue Reading... Labels: blaze, charged, Nurse, Sydney