A mix of lucky (or rather very lucky) events linked to Scratch and win but in the background there are also other episodes linked to misunderstandings and broken agreements: so everything ends up in court with potential criminal sentences on the horizon. A true paradox, a story that seems fictionalized and untrue, but instead it happened and everything is taking place in the Verona Court.
The lucky winner of the Scratch Card: what are the risks?
We had you already talked about this storybut in front of the judge and the public prosecutor (because it also ended up in criminal proceedings) extraordinary facts are emerging.
A 43-year-old Brazilian craftsman, resident in Monzambano, in the Mantua area, could face a three-year prison sentence after winning a fortune thanks to two scratch cards.
The story involves Ricardo, a Brazilian artisan tiler, the protagonist of this intricate situation, together with his friends: Giovanni, 51 years old from Brescia, and Christian, 62 years old from Verona.
The controversy arises from the fact that Ricardo first won 800 thousand euros with a ticket purchased in Modena in 2021 and subsequently did an encore (incredible, against all odds) for another two million euros with a second ticket purchased on the shores of Lake Garda. This is when the controversy begins.
Just for a double win like that there could be a headline on the front page of any newspaper, considering the very low probability of all this happening.
The disputed Garda Scratch Card: the history of the story
February 22nd two years ago marked the beginning of a controversy that today takes center stage in courtrooms. The protagonists of the story were three friends: Ricardo, Christian and Giovanni, who went together to a tobacconist in the center of Garda, on the Venetian side of the lake, to buy six instant lottery tickets worth 20 euros each. The total spent was 120 euros. However, versions on the details of purchasing and scratching off tickets differ greatly between the three.
Differences between Friends
Ricardo adamantly maintains that he paid for, chose and scratched all the tickets himself. Otherwise, Christian and Giovanni claim to have paid and chosen them together, scratching them in turns. Luck kissed one of those tickets, which turned out to be a winner for an impressive sum: 2 million euros. But who is entitled to that astonishing sum?
The Seizure of the Winning Ticket
Ricardo, the physical holder of the winning ticket, wasted no time. Without informing his companions, he left with the ticket, going with it to the bank to claim the winnings two days later. His shot, apparently perfect, was however compromised by the prompt reaction of his former friends. Feeling betrayed, Christian and Giovanni filed a lawsuit against Ricardo for embezzlement, demanding an equal division of the winnings.
In light of the accusations, the Prosecutor’s Office seized the millionaire prize, which now lies in a bank account awaiting the judge’s decision. The trial, which began in September last year, saw numerous witnesses, evidence and speeches. Ricardo continues to defend himself vigorously, claiming the legitimacy of his ownership and claiming to be a lottery expert, with a secret successful strategy.
This statement is controversial, since the mathematical odds of winning million-dollar prizes are extremely low and there is no foolproof strategy. It is important to remember to play responsibly, recognizing the uncertainty inherent in lotteries.
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The generous offer or simple calculation to avoid the trial?
Ricardo also claims to have offered 80 thousand euros each to his former friends as an act of generosity, an offer that both would have refused. He adds that he was just very lucky, having won 800 thousand euros with another ticket in Modena two weeks before the event in question.
Christian and Giovanni, however, do not accept his version. Considering Ricardo a liar, they claim that they played socially, as always, and are therefore entitled to two-thirds of the winnings. They declare that the WhatsApp messages demonstrated their awareness of the win even before Ricardo’s escape, and speak of betrayal by a trusted friend.
An Uncertain Verdict
The judge will now have to untangle this complex skein and determine who is telling the truth. The decision will be based on the evidence and testimonies collected. However, as is often the case with luck, the truth can be elusive and elusive. As the saying goes, “luck is blind, but bad luck sees clearly.
The complaint for embezzlement
There is not only the civil law aspect (who owns the ticket?) but a criminal case is also open, from the moment the two friends claim to have bought the second 2 million ticket together and reported him for embezzlement . As a result, the prize was seized and Ricardo is now in court, facing a three-year prison sentence and a fine of one thousand euros. The public prosecutor proposes splitting the reward, with 600 thousand euros for Ricardo and 500 thousand euros for each of the friends.
Ricardo firmly maintains that he purchased the winning ticket himself.
The requests of the public prosecutor (PM)
The Public Prosecutor, once having listened to the testimonies of the two complainants, asked the judge for a 3-year prison sentence for embezzlement. The story is somewhat murky because it is based mainly on testimonial evidence.
Tickets in society: legal disputes are around the corner
Unfortunately the dynamic is always the same: friends who buy lottery tickets together and then, once they have won, run away. We’ve been telling you very similar stories for years. Please note: do not buy tickets in company! Nine times out of ten it ends badly because money goes to your head and unfortunately people change for mere interests.
Latina’s two frenemies from Gratta e Vinci
Only 10 days ago we told you about it the story of the two friend-enemies which develops around a long-lasting legal dispute between two former friends linked by a win of half a million euros due to a ticket Scratch and win. Initially united by a promise to share any winnings, the situation turns to rancor when the winning ticket causes disagreements on the initial agreement.
After years of legal battles, the case now reaches the Court of Appeal in Rome for a final decision that could change the lives of the two women.
As mentioned, this is not an isolated case, as similar disputes have arisen in the past in other Scratch Card winning situations. A similar story concerns two truck drivers in Rome who won five million euros, but found themselves in conflict over the division of the money, ultimately leading to a complaint to the police.
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