Tens of thousands in 500-euro bank notes clog up toilets in Geneva
Swiss prosecutors are investigating why around $125,000 ( about N45 million) worth of high-denomination euro bank notes were flushed down toilets in Geneva.
The 500-euro notes, which are set to be withdrawn from circulation next year over fears they're mainly used by criminals, were found cut up in the toilets at a bank and three nearby restaurants.
"We are not so interested in the motive but we want to be sure of the origin of the money," spokesman Vincent Derouand said, adding that neither throwing money away nor blocking a toilet was a crime.
The Tribune de Geneve newspaper, which first reported the unusual deposit, said the first blockage occurred in the toilet serving the vault at UBS bank in Geneva's financial district.
Three nearby bistros found their facilities bunged up with 500-euro notes a few days later.
Mr Derouand said two people had agreed to compensate the restaurants for the costs of the blockage, and the restaurants had withdrawn a complaint that they made when the incident happened in May.
The cash was confiscated during the investigation and it was unclear who would get it if it was found to be lawful.
There was no immediate reason to think it was dirty money, Mr Derouand said.
The European Central Bank said last year it had decided to discontinue the 500-euro note because of concerns that it was being used too often for illicit activities including money laundering.
A UBS spokesman declined to comment.