Thieves used a stolen bank card to purchase a winning French lottery ticket worth €500,000 (US$523,000) but disappeared before cashing it in, making them some of France’s most sought-after fugitives.
Jean-David E., the card’s rightful owner, is offering to split the winnings in exchange for the return of his wallet. Meanwhile, the thieves risk arrest, as the state lottery operator, La Française des Jeux (FDJ), confirmed no one has claimed the prize as of Saturday.
Jean-David’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, recounted how his client’s backpack was stolen from his car in Toulouse, leading to fraudulent card use at a local shop. The shopkeeper reported that two seemingly homeless men used the stolen card to buy the scratch-off ticket, celebrating wildly before leaving their cigarettes and belongings behind.
Although Jean-David filed a police complaint, he is willing to drop it if the thieves come forward to split the winnings. Prosecutors may consider seizing the prize as illegally obtained funds, but Debuisson has launched a national appeal urging the culprits to negotiate.
“You risk nothing … we will share with you,” the lawyer stated, warning that the ticket will eventually expire. “Time is working against us.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
