Rich pickings

It was a risk that paid off. To anyone BD1,700 is a sizeable amount that should be spent wisely – preferably on something that you can examine first.

But when Mahmoud Khourshid, 25, heard about the Interior Ministry’s auction of more than 900 lost, confiscated, abandoned and unclaimed items stockpiled over the last year, he threw caution to the wind and decided to buy ‘blind.’
Mr Khourshid, a security officer from Seef, and his partner Abdul Karim Toublani, a transport co-ordinator from Isa Town, last week spent BD1,700 on a vast pile of suitcases and bags at an auction held at Isa Town market.
Five large hauls of unclaimed luggage, most of which was abandoned at Bahrain International Airport were taken from the backs of trucks, and without even so much as a peak at the bags’ contents, bidding began.
The pair bought the most expensive of the five lots, which together fetched BD5,200.
“We heard about the auction and thought that we would try our luck,” said Mr Khourshid. “I heard that there were luxury goods, gold and watches, but we bought it blind.
“My partner and I had saved the money to buy mini-bikes from Dubai but we heard about this and thought that it would be a better idea.”
Mr Khourshid was aware of the gamble he had taken in buying the abandoned bags. “This is the first and probably last time,” he said. “I didn’t think we would spend so much. I was very scared I would lose my money.”
Immediately after the auction Mr Khourshid started to examine his goods for any hidden treasures. Unfortunately, he didn’t find any and was forced to sell the bags over the course of the afternoon for BD500 less than he bought them for.
“We were very disappointed,” he said.
But Mr Khourshid and his partner had kept behind one box filled with accessories and costume jewellery.
A few days later the pair went through the box and to their shock and delight discovered a selection of diamond and sapphire encrusted earrings and rings.
“I was so happy when I saw them!” said Mr Khourshid. “We were so pleased and surprised.”
Luckily, Mr Khourshid has a goldsmithing diploma and he and his brothers own a jewellery shop in Muharraq, so he was able to use their diamond detector and assess the worth of the jewellery.
“They’re quite low grade diamonds,” he explained, “but in total they were worth about BD900. Even if the bags had been examined beforehand, because the jewellery was made from white gold, many would probably have thought they were fakes.”
Mr Toublani added: “Before I was angry with him for losing our money … but now I love him!” 
The pair now plan to sell the jewellery to dealers and try their luck at a new, less risky venture.

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By -RdS-
editor@gulfweekly.com