An Austrian man left a will worth more than one million euros to the Cambodian Red Cross

By Khmerization
Source: Koh Santepheap

An Austrian man has left a will worth more than 500,000 euros for the Cambodian Red Cross when he died in June 2009, reports Koh Santepheap.

Madame Men Neary Sopheak, Vice-President of the Cambodian Red Cross, said that lawyer of the dead man, Mortalich Gerhard (spelling?), had informed the Austrian Red Cross that he had left a will, 500,000 euros in cash and other assets, including a house and many collectible items, jewelry and memorabilia to the Cambodian Red Cross.

Mr. Gerhard, a famous author of many spy-thriller novels, was born in 1931, never got married and didn't have any children. He got a sister, however, no one knows why he decided to leave all his properties and assets to theCambodian Red Cross instead of his only sister. But, when his house was inspected, all Asian artefacts, including a stone statue of the Cambodian Great King Jayavarman VII (1125 - 1215) and Asian memorabilia, including Asian diamonds, had been found displayed in his house. It was assumed that he was fond of things Asian and had visited many Asian countries, including Cambodia.

The Austrian Red cross had informed the Cambodian Red Cross of the news and told it to apply to Austrian Court to get ownership of the late Mr. Gerhard's assets.

On 3rd March, Lady Bun Rany, President of the Cambodian Red Cross and wife of Prime Minister Hun Sen, signed a document with Ms. Christiane Kapali (spelling?), Second Secretary at the German Embassy which is also representing the Austrian government.

According to estimates, the late Gerhard's assets could exceed a million euro mark when they are properly accounted for. His assets include 500,000 euros deposited in his bank account, a house, several vehicles, artefacts and collectible items, a Napoleon-era antique sword, Diamonds and jewelry and all other assets which are all left in his will for the Cambodian Red Cross.