A scrap collector couple in HCM City, who found JPY5m in an old loudspeaker and reported the find to police a year ago, will get to keep the money because no one has come forward to claim it.

In late 2013, Tran Van Quang and Huynh Thi Anh Hong bought an old loudspeaker from a man with VND100,000. They intended to break it up and sell it for scrap, but prices were low so they put it aside until March 22 last year, when scrap prices had risen.

Inside the speaker they found a box containing 520 JPY10,000 banknotes.

"I thought it was fake money," Hong said. "I didn't know it was Japanese yen."

 Quang and Hong (in front)

Quang and Hong took the money to the police and reported their discovery, thinking someone would come forward to claim the cache. Their discovery attracted a lot of local attention and even threats from people claiming the money was theirs.

The house of the scrap collector couple

Under the civil code, if, after one year from the public announcement of something having been found the owner does not come forward and be identified as the rightful owner, possession of a "lost" item reverts to the finder.

"The owner might have forgotten about the existence of the money and it's likely highly that they returned to Japan," said lawyer Nguyen Van Truong.

On March 23, after one year, Tan Binh District police told Truong and Hong they could claim the money, though there may be deductions according to state regulations.

"I don't know how much I will be entitled to. I hope to have it all so I could improve my family's poor situation," Hong said.