Argentine cash row goes to court
The Argentine economy was plunged into crisis in 2002
A shopkeeper in the northern Argentine city of Cordoba has filed a lawsuit against a rubbish recycler who found $50,000 buried in refuse.
The shopkeeper, Emilia Mascoy, said her maid had mistakenly thrown out a small case containing the money during spring cleaning and demands it be returned.
But the recycler, Paulo Altomirano, has already spent most of it, buying a house, two cars and a corner shop.
Under Argentine law, anyone possessing an item is assumed to be its owner.
An exception is only made if a third party can prove otherwise.
Mr Altamirano, who is unemployed, used to be one of Argentina's legion of cartoneros, people who scrape a living by recycling whatever they are fortunate enough to find in other people's rubbish.
The phenomenon has grown since the country's massive economic crisis in 2002, which left millions of Argentines living below the breadline.
The recycler's life was transformed when he found the box.
But according to Infobae newspaper, Ms Mascoy, 70, became suspicious when she noticed her neighbour's change of lifestyle.
She said she had asked her maid to clear out her loft without remembering she had hidden the money there.
Some neighbours are said to have rallied round Ms Mascoy, while others are backing the alleged finder of the money.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3775313.stm
The Argentine economy was plunged into crisis in 2002
A shopkeeper in the northern Argentine city of Cordoba has filed a lawsuit against a rubbish recycler who found $50,000 buried in refuse.
The shopkeeper, Emilia Mascoy, said her maid had mistakenly thrown out a small case containing the money during spring cleaning and demands it be returned.
But the recycler, Paulo Altomirano, has already spent most of it, buying a house, two cars and a corner shop.
Under Argentine law, anyone possessing an item is assumed to be its owner.
An exception is only made if a third party can prove otherwise.
Mr Altamirano, who is unemployed, used to be one of Argentina's legion of cartoneros, people who scrape a living by recycling whatever they are fortunate enough to find in other people's rubbish.
The phenomenon has grown since the country's massive economic crisis in 2002, which left millions of Argentines living below the breadline.
The recycler's life was transformed when he found the box.
But according to Infobae newspaper, Ms Mascoy, 70, became suspicious when she noticed her neighbour's change of lifestyle.
She said she had asked her maid to clear out her loft without remembering she had hidden the money there.
Some neighbours are said to have rallied round Ms Mascoy, while others are backing the alleged finder of the money.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3775313.stm
