Honest cabbie returns diamonds (Afghan immigrant does the right thing)

News 24 (South Africa) ^ | November 17, 2005

[Stoat]

Honest cabbie returns diamonds

18/11/2005 16:22  - (SA)  

 

Los Angeles - Haider Sediqi didn't give much thought to the small, zippered pouch left in his taxicab by the passenger he took to the Los Angeles international airport.

The Afghan United States immigrant taxi driver stashed the brown bag in the front, leaving it unopened as he finished his Wednesday shift, and met a fellow driver for lunch.

As he walked to a restroom, Sediqi casually asked his friend to check the bag for identification.

"Oh, God," Sediqi, 40, recalled his friend saying as he stared into the bag. "Look at those things."

Inside, packed in clear plastic cases were diamonds - about 100 of them, cut and polished and worth $350 000 (R2.4m). Also inside was a cellphone bill.

Sediqi, father of two with another on the way, called the number on the bill, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Um, did you leave anything?" Sediqi asked the man who answered.

"Oh, my God," said jewellery businessman, Eric Austein.

Sediqi arranged to meet Austein, who had not yet caught his flight to New York, at the airport police station.

Police inventoried the diamonds and confirmed Austein's identity. Austein took possession of the gems, hugged Sediqi and promised him a reward.

Sediqi said he had never considered keeping the diamonds, even though he dreams of opening a restaurant.

"God is up there," he said on Thursday as he waited outside an auto shop, where his cab was having its brakes fixed. "He always watches."

[Stoat]

I know that this isn't the very most cutting-edge, worldshaking news story out there but for some reason I felt starved for some good news today and hopefully others might find this story inspirational as well.

[Kurt_Hectic]

We must always remember that most people is good.

[muggs]

Gee, you made me cry. :)

[Stoat]

We must always remember that most people is good.

True, and sometimes this is hard to remember with most news coverage focused on negativity, pain and suffering.

[azhenfud]

"God is up there,....He always watches."

Rest assured.

[pageonetoo]

...I know that this isn't the very most cutting-edge, worldshaking news story

This is the type of guy that makes you happy to be fighting in Afghanistan, as well as helping the Iraqis, in their time of trial. They managed to escape the horror that others arfe facing. IOW, I'm "proud to be an American" can be said in other languages.

I turned on the tv, to hear of another two mosques blown up, with numerous casualties, and thought about the story yesterday, on FoxNews, interviewing some Marines doing a little "nation building". It showed proud Americans, in a good light, so it is not "news" to MSM... even though that is what they are trying to do here at home!

Pray for those in the line of fire...

[Stoat]

Gee, you made me cry. :)

 

[muggs]

Thanks.

[McGavin999]

"God is up there," he said on Thursday as he waited outside an auto shop, where his cab was having its brakes fixed. "He always watches."

Yes he is Sediqi, and you have just made Him very proud.

Man, I hope that jeweler gets back to him with a reward.

[CalvaryJohn]

What makes the story even more astounding is this is a Muslim doing this for a Jew. Wow.

[orionblamblam]

> I hope that jeweler gets back to him with a reward.

Agreed. Enough to help the man open his resaurant, anyway (even though restaurants are the new businesses most likely to fail miserably...)

[Sometimes A River]

Wow bump.

[msf92497]

Yes, isn't America grand?!!!

[Old Grumpy]

Since there hasn't been much good news in the past two days down here in the Bay Area, it's a refreshing change to read a good story like this one.

[Buckeye McFrog]

while the MSM and most Dems continue to portray Afghans as too backward and stupid to handle democracy....excellent story!

[McGavin999]

It is one good man doing it for another.

[Stoat]

"God is up there,....He always watches."

Rest assured.

Fortunately, there are still people who understand this.....something that is not terribly apparent when one looks over a typical day's news offerings.

[TexasCajun]

I had a 2 carat diamond solitaire,lost from my wife's engagement rig, returned by my Hispanic house cleaning lady.

I gave her a $100.00 bill before she left and thanked her.

She didn't want to take the money but I insisted and told her good deed should be rewarded.

[Stoat]

...I know that this isn't the very most cutting-edge, worldshaking news story

This is the type of guy that makes you happy to be fighting in Afghanistan, as well as helping the Iraqis, in their time of trial. They managed to escape the horror that others arfe facing. IOW, I'm "proud to be an American" can be said in other languages.

I turned on the tv, to hear of another two mosques blown up, with numerous casualties, and thought about the story yesterday, on FoxNews, interviewing some Marines doing a little "nation building". It showed proud Americans, in a good light, so it is not "news" to MSM... even though that is what they are trying to do here at home!

Pray for those in the line of fire...

Always good words to live by....Bravo!

...I know that this isn't the very most cutting-edge, worldshaking news story

This is the type of guy that makes you happy to be fighting in Afghanistan, as well as helping the Iraqis, in their time of trial. They managed to escape the horror that others arfe facing. IOW, I'm "proud to be an American" can be said in other languages.

I turned on the tv, to hear of another two mosques blown up, with numerous casualties, and thought about the story yesterday, on FoxNews, interviewing some Marines doing a little "nation building". It showed proud Americans, in a good light, so it is not "news" to MSM... even though that is what they are trying to do here at home!

Pray for those in the line of fire...

[Stoat]

Thanks.

You're welcome  :-)  It's an awfully nice story, isn't it?  He does us all proud with his honor and integrity.