[ktallett]

He doesn't have that amount of money right now. He may never have it. They are taking a massive risk at a great expense to themselves. He may never find the hard drive, it may be unreadable, his memory maybe incorrect and he doesn't have the key on there, and so on. The council would be taking a pointless risk.

[npoc]

There are people who will put up the money to the council in return for a large percentage of the money if it's recovered.