Two homeless men saw their luck to change dramatically as they found that a scratching they bought was awarded 500,000 euros. However, the ticket was purchased with a stolen credit card, which generated an unexpected turnaround. The victim of theft, instead of simply demanding justice, presented a surprising proposal: dividing the money, as long as the winning ticket was delivered.
Who is entitled to the prize?
The case, which has given to speak among law experts, raises complex issues. Who has the right to complain the prize? Did the person who bought the scratch or the true holder of the card used in the transaction? In addition, there is also the doubt about whether the company operator will accept to pay the amount.
The theft that changed everything
The incident goes back to February 3 in the city of Toulouse, France. Two homeless individuals broke into a parked car in the city center and stole a backpack with bank documents and cards. The owner of the backpack, a man identified by the newspaper The Parisian Like 42-year-old Jean-David, he realized the theft shortly after.
As soon as he realized the succeeded, Jean-David went to the authorities to file a complaint and tried to block the cards with the bank. During this process, he was informed that before the blockade, purchases had been made of 52.50 euros in a tobacco shop near the theft site.
More interested in recovering his documents than in the amount spent, Jean-David decided to move to the establishment. His intention was to verify that there were video surveillance images that could help identify those responsible for the theft.
The visit to the tobacharia and the mystery
The conversation with the Tabacaria owner revealed some curious details. “My goal was at least to recover my documents,” he told the police. The merchant remembered two men who bought tobacco and scrape, having tried to make other purchases that were refused due to the lack of the card code.
The discovery of the award -winning ticket
To the surprise of all, one of the scratches acquired by the suspects contained the maximum award of half a million euros. The two men returned to the tobacharia to complain about the money, but were informed that they would have to contact the company responsible for the lottery, French games (FDJ).
According to, the woman of the taberneiro was the one who transmitted to Jean-David the unexpected news. “She told me she doubted she could find them, because they really had 500,000 euros. They were so euphoric that they even forgot the cigarettes they bought, ”he said.
Toulouse police, when informed of the case, confirmed that the FDJ suspended the payment of the prize until the situation is clarified. However, the two individuals did not perform to claim the 500,000 euros, leaving the destination of the money suspended.
An unexpected proposal
Jean-David, far from focusing only on the complaint for theft, decided to take an unexpected approach. Instead of simply requiring the annulment of the prize, he chose to suggest an agreement to both men.
“Why not find a friendly solution? Why not divide the prize? ”Suggested Jean-David. His lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, argued that the FDJ will be forced to pay the prize as long as the ticket is presented.
The legal arguments
According to the lawyer, the annulment of the prize is not just a possibility that the scratch was bought with a stolen card. “Those who have the ticket need not worry: our proposal is simple. Without my client’s money, they would not have bought the scrape; Without them, my client would not have won. It’s just logical to share, ”he said.
An unprecedented case and the future of the prize
While the outcome of the case remains uncertain, the question about those who are entitled to the prize remains open. The final decision may have significant implications for similar situations in the future.
If the winners decide to emerge and accept the deal, this story may be marked as one of the most unusual cases in the history of French lottery. If they choose to remain hidden, the fate of the prize and its eventual legal repercussions will remain a mystery.
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