We have all had passing flights of fancy as to what we would do if we were ever fortunate enough to strike it big and win the lottery. After all, with such a big windfall, one could truly live without care for all their lives and pursue any passions they may want on a whim. Only, that isn’t always necessarily the case for lottery winners who have struck gold, with some families having been torn apart as a consequence of wealth.
Thai man files lawsuit against wife for hiding RM1.5 million lottery winnings from him
One such case occurred in Thailand, after 47-year-old Mr Narin filed a lawsuit against his wife by seeking out the help of well-known lawyer Narong Kaewphet last Saturday (March 11th, 2023). According to Thai news portal The Thaiger, this came after Narin’s wife, 43-year-old Chaweewan, hid lottery winnings of 12 million baht (RM1.5 million) from him and claimed that she had already separated from him years before at the time when she won the prize.
The couple have been together for 20 years and were wedded in the province of Chaiyaphum. They have three daughters together. At present, Narin claims that he had no idea that they were separated, as his wife alleges.
What’s more, the couple apparently owe 2 million baht (RM259,559.73) in debt and had decided to move to South Korea to work, so that they could earn enough to pay back their arrears. While Chaweewan eventually returned home to Thailand to raise their daughters, Narin remained abroad and would send home anywhere between 27,000 baht (RM3,504.06) to 30,000 baht (RM3,893.40).
Wife claims he asked for a separation years ago
He would only come to learn of his wife’s windfall fortune from his daughters, as she had deliberately hid it from him. What’s more, Chaweewan even ignored his calls when he attempted to contact her. Left with no other option, he decided to travel back to Thailand for an explanation. To his chagrin, he came to learn that she has since moved on and married another man on February 25th.
“I was shocked and did not know what to do. I am disappointed. I did not expect that my wife of 20 years would do this to me.
I only had 60,000 baht left in my bank account because I gave money to her every month. I want to call out for justice and the money that I deserve.” he said.
Complicating matters even further was the fact that Narin and Chaweewan did not sign an official marriage certificate together to legitimise their marriage. With that said, Kaewphet argues that Narin still had a right to the money as their relatives and other people were aware of their relationship, which was enough to make it ‘official’.
On the other hand, Chaweewan had lodged a complaint against Narin for defamation and claims he had indeed ask to separate from her over the phone years ago, and that even their neighbours remember it happening. Denying that she hid the winnings from him, she then refutes Narin’s claims that he sent that much money back home to them, saying that he only deposited 3,00 baht (RM389.34) to 4,000 baht (RM519.12) into his daughter’s accounts.
As of present, the case is being investigated by both the police and other relevant departments.
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