Sydney police have detained a 49-year-old man to ask him if he owns a suitcase containing $1.28 million in cash left in an Italian restaurant Tuesday.

The man, who is yet to be identified, fits the general description given by witnesses to police.

According to witnesses, a casually dressed man walked into the Café Marco in Burwood but abruptly left leaving the suitcase behind.

The café owner called the police to check if the suitcase has a bomb but $50 bills totaling $1.28 million were found inside instead.

Later, Detective Inspector Ian Pryde told reporters that witnesses described the suspected owner of the suitcase as Asian, about 30 years old and wearing a yellow shirt, surfing shorts and wrestling singlet.

Investigators will try to find out if the money are proceeds of crime just like how they dealt with two men caught with $2.5 million in cash stashed in suitcases in March.

The men had just arrived at Sydney's Central railway station from Perth when they drew the attention of police for acting suspiciously. Their suitcases were searched and the police saw the cash.

The 25-year-old man, from Auburn, and the 26-year-old man, from Sydney were charged with recklessly dealing in the proceeds of crime, according to News.com.

The Cafe Marco in Burwood