SELF-PROCLAIMED LEBANESE MILLIONAIRE DETAINED WITH FAKE NOTES

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- A self-proclaimed Lebanese millionaire has
been detained for possessing counterfeit notes amounting USD66 million (RM220
million) in a hotel room.

Kuala Lumpur Commercial CID chief ACP Izany Abdul Ghany said the 50 year-old
suspect was detained at 12.05am at a hotel in Jalan Bukit Bintang on Sunday.

"60 notes amounting USD1 million, 60 notes amounting USD100,000 and 40 notes
amounting USD500 were found in a black pouch bag," he told a press conference
here Thursday.

Izany said the suspect had earlier given a tip of USD500 to a male employee
at the hotel.

"The employee reported to police after being told by a money changer that
the notes were fake.

"The notes were old, probabaly used in 1934. Our investigation is ongoing,"
he added.

The suspect who was remanded 14 days was attending a court hearing here and
had been staying at the four-star hotel since Jan 8.

He was detained under Section 417 of Penal Code for cheating involving the
purchase of office equipments in 2005.

--BERNAMA