A beggar, Fatima Othman, who begged for years on the streets of Beirut in Lebanon has died rich after stashing away more than $1 million.
Fatima Othman
A 52-year-old disabled beggar identified as Fatima Othman, who lived on handouts in Lebanon, has died a millionaire, after Police were shocked to discover that she had accumulated a small fortune while begging on the streets in the capital Beirut.
According to a report by
Dailymail UK, officers discovered her body in an abandoned car in the city's Barbir district and two bags containing five million LBP ($3,300) in cash.
A bank statement (left) showing the fortune Ms Othman had amassed in a savings account and the money in cash (right) found by officers after her death
It was gathered that the frugal beggar had also stashed away 1.7 billion LBP ($1.1 million) in a savings account - which was uncovered after police found her deposit book for a local bank.
Police spokesman, Joseph Musallem said Ms Othman died from a heart attack and her death was not being treated as suspicious. But he said it was 'a big surprise' to discover that she had amassed such a fortune.
Ms Othman was unable to use her hands and feet after suffering devastating injuries during the Lebanese Civil War, locals report.
She became a local celebrity after a picture of her being fed water by a Lebanese soldier went viral online. The soldier was praised by his commander for showing 'compassion and humanity'.
Police tracked down Ms Othman's family to the town of Ain Al-Zahab in Akkar, northern Lebanon, and they have now buried her body.
They were equally dumbstruck when they discovered how wealthy she was.