Picture used for illustration.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

A back-store keeper at a shop in The Dubai Mall is getting praised for returning Dhs20,000 left by a customer at the counter to the Dubai Police.

The customer, a female tourist left the money on February 2 while shopping at a store in the mall. The woman left the envelope on the cash counter while paying for items she bought in the store.

Instead of keeping the money for himself, Sudip Raba Magar told the store manager about the money found and he was advised to hand it to the mall security.

The police were able to track the owner of the money using footage of the CCTV camera in the store.

Sudip, a Nepalese national has been working at the ECCO store at The Dubai Mall for around two years.

"I was about to just pick it up and chuck it in the trash bin as I thought it was empty but then I realised it was loaded with cash. Without even counting the cash, I just stapled it and kept it under the CCTV camera so nothing goes missing from it and I called the store manager informing her of the same. The store manager asked me to at once go and deposit the money in the lost and found section of the mall management, which I did."

On his honesty, 25-year-old Sudip said it was the values instilled in him by his veteran late father that ensured he stays honest and truthful at all times.

"Honesty is a rare virtue yes, but if you are raised right with good moral values then no treasure in the world can tempt you. From childhood my parents, especially my father, told me that always be very careful in money matters, no one maybe watching you but God is always watching you. Money is a big responsibility so always handle it with care and return it to its rightful owner," he said.

According Arabic media, a police official from Bur Dubai police station confirmed that Sudip will be honoured with a certificate of honour.

The official said that these incidents are repeated frequently and that the Dubai Police are keen to honour these people for their honesty and publish their photos in the media to set an example for others.