Sukhothai Lottery Dispute: Missing Ticket Sparks Accusations
A heated disagreement has emerged in Sukhothai province, with one resident accusing her neighbor of pilfering a winning lottery ticket worth millions of baht. The accused vehemently denies the allegations, asserting that no winning ticket was ever claimed.
The Complaint
A 54-year-old woman, identified as Sayan, has formally lodged a complaint with Sawankhalok Police Station. She is requesting a thorough investigation into the disappearance of a lottery ticket she claims secured the first prize, amounting to 6 million baht.
Sayan recounted that on May 31, she purchased three lottery tickets from a street vendor in the Paknam subdistrict, collecting them the following day, June 1. The tickets bore the numbers 579015, 173770, and 265873, and were reportedly stapled together.
Following the lottery draw, Sayan stated that she visited her neighbor, Waew, around 7 p.m. to have the results checked. According to Sayan, Waew informed her that one of the tickets had indeed won the first prize and congratulated her. Waew then offered to hold onto the tickets for prize collection, an arrangement Sayan agreed to.
The Discrepancy
However, upon returning the next day, June 2, Sayan claims Waew told her the tickets had been discarded as none had matched the winning numbers. Waew reportedly indicated that the numbers were close but not exact.
Sayan then searched the rubbish bin outside Waew’s residence and discovered two of the tickets. The ticket with the number 173770, which Sayan believed was the winner, was missing.
Denial and Vendor Testimony
During an interview, Waew firmly maintained her innocence. She stated that she had verified the ticket numbers using a lottery verification website and found no winners. Waew insists she returned all tickets to Sayan on the same day she checked them and denies any involvement in taking them.
The lottery vendor, Jaran Phumpuang, confirmed to media outlets that Sayan had purchased a ticket ending in 770 from his stall. He added that it was the only ticket with that particular ending available at the time. CCTV footage from the stall corroborates Sayan’s visit on June 1 to collect her tickets.
Police Investigation
Authorities are actively investigating the Sukhothai lottery dispute. All involved parties are being questioned, including waste collectors who handled refuse in the area on June 2. Police anticipate concluding their inquiry within the coming days.
Sayan has appealed to her neighbor to return the lottery ticket, expressing a willingness to share a portion of the prize money. She hopes for an amicable resolution to the matter.
