Man finally gets Bt6.1 million lottery prize

Sith

While the lottery vendor admitted defeat and Sith fell to his knees after hearing the verdict, the man's joyous friends planned a village-wide som tam feast in celebration.

Sith was accused by lottery vendor Rosalin Saknararoj, 27, of stealing the Bt360 lottery tickets - which won Bt6,138,000 in the May 16, 2004, round - from her showcase. However, Sith maintained his innocence, saying he had bought the tickets.

Sith's 51-year-old daughter Darunee, who went to collect the prize, was the case's second defendant. During the trial, the money was frozen in Darunee's bank account at the Government's Saving Bank Mancha Khiri branch. The primary court dropped theft charges against Sith on July 21, 2006, but Rosalin took the case to the Appeal Court.

The Appeal Court was not convinced the plaintiff and the witnesses she brought forward had actually seen Sith stealing the lottery tickets. It upheld the Primary Court's ruling and ordered the frozen Bt6.1 million released within 30 days.

Sith, with tears in his eyes, fell to his knees upon hearing the verdict and later walked out of the courtroom smiling, though he refused to speak to reporters.

Rosalin's husband Songpol, who listened to the verdict on behalf of his wife, said he was ready to accept the court ruling.

He later insisted that they had only filed the lawsuit because the lottery tickets had been stolen and that he and his wife were no longer selling lottery tickets.