Eritrean returns excess amount received from the money exchange

DUBAI — An Eritrean man who returned $20,000 paid to him by mistake by a money exchange employee in Dubai believes that the virtue of honesty is incumbent upon a Muslim.

by

Afkar Ali Ahmed

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Published: Sat 28 Oct 2006, 9:13 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 8:12 PM

Desit Saleh Jubul, 25, who works at an Internet cafe in Dubai received $20,000 instead of $200 from an employee of Dahab Shill, an exchange house in Dubai.

''I had gone to the exchange house to receive $200 transferred by my brother in Sweden to assist me pay off my house rent," he said.

Jubul informed the counter staff that he was expecting some money from his brother in Sweden. Hussain, the counter staff who was in a big rush to leave office at around 8.45pm, asked Jubul to furnish his ID and copy of his passport quickly.

“When I handed him the documents he gave me the money which I found was more than what I should have received. Instead of $200, I received around $20,000 which amounts to Dh73,000. The staff was in a big rush and despite informing him that he had overpaid, the employee did not hear and shut down the office.”

“I tried calling up the office but no one answered. On the following day, I took the money and went over to the exchange office to inform the employee of the goof up."

The employee, according to Jubul, was shocked and was about to faint. Visibly relieved, he called other staff members and informed them about the incident.

The entire staff thanked the young man for the gesture and his honesty and offered to pay him Dh500 as a token of gratitude.

Jubul said though he was in need of money, he returned the excess amount because "I knew that the money did not belong to me. Besides, this mistake could have also resulted in the exchange staffer losing his job. I am a Muslim and belong to Tigereye tribe that would never forgive those who steal or take away others' money. My religion and culture would not allow me to run away with ill begotten money."


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