SAPPORO -- The Hokkaido prefectural police are having a hard time identifying the owner of 10 million yen in cash, which was found at a recyclable garbage collection facility in Sapporo. Twelve people have so far claimed ownership.
The 10 million yen was found on Jan. 30 among paper waste collected in the Nishi and Teine wards of Sapporo, and the Hokkaido police announced they were seeking information on the owner of the money on Feb. 21.
As of Tuesday, 12 people from Hokkaido and other prefectures had told the police that they are the owner, saying things like, "I lost the money when I was carrying it wrapped in newspaper" and "I lost it while traveling around."
Nine among the 12 filed an official report of lost property.
The Hokkaido police are trying to identify the true owner based on the trash collection route and whether the cash matches the descriptions given by those claiming the money.
The 10 million yen was found by a contractor commissioned by the Sapporo city government, which was sorting the garbage.
If the owner of the cash is not identified by April 30, the city, as the "finder," is expected to take ownership of the cash.
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