Found While Digging for Construction: 14.8 Billion Won in Gold Bars... Crate Discovered by 18-Year-Old Student
A Trove of Gold Bars and Coins Found at Belgian Construction Site
If Unclaimed for Five Years, Treasure Will Be Split Between Finder and Property Owner
A stash of gold bars and gold coins worth approximately 14.8 billion won was discovered at a building renovation site in Belgium.
According to Belgian public broadcaster VRT and other media outlets, on August 10, construction workers were working in the basement of a building owned by the social welfare organization CAW Oost-Vlaanderen in Dendermonde when they found 49 gold bars and a collection of gold coins hidden in crates and reported the discovery to authorities. The value of the gold is estimated to be about 9 million euros (around 14.8 billion won).
Kobe, an 18-year-old university student who was working on sewer pipe installation, said, "At first, I thought they were one-euro coins," adding that he abandoned any thought of taking them secretly because there were just too many.
The building was formerly used as a brewery and is currently being remodeled into welfare and residential facilities. Police have confiscated the discovered gold and are investigating its origin and how it was hidden.
There is widespread interest regarding the ownership of the treasure. Under Belgian law, the original owner can demand its return within five years. Authorities are also looking into the possibility that illegal funds were hidden at the site. If no owner comes forward within five years and the gold is found to be unconnected to any crime, the finder and the property owner will each receive half of the gold.
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CAW Oost-Vlaanderen stated that if it gains ownership of the gold, it plans to use it to expand facilities for the homeless. The Dendermonde police also said, "We hope this surprising discovery will have a positive impact on the lives of many people."
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