ROME -- One of three men who won 2 million euros on a scratch card is now risking three years behind bars for embezzlement after refusing to share the bounty, a court in Verona has heard. 

  Ricardo G.T, a 43-year-old from Brazil, bought the scratch card in Feb 2021 in Garda with his friends, Giovanni S., 51, and Christian C. 62, both from Italy. The scratch card revealed 2 million euros, and 1,600,000 after tax. Around two weeks earlier, Ricardo had bought another scratch card alone where he had won 800,000 euros. 

  Giovanni and Christian discovered that Ricardo had collected the 2-million-euro loot alone and contacted the Public Prosecutor’s Office to have the payment blocked.

  “We bought the ticket together, so the winnings had to be split three ways. Between us there was a clear pact, we had also contacted a notary and an accountant, but Ricardo betrayed us and tried to cash in on his own.” The friends explained. 

  The court heard that Ricardo had gone to scratch the card at Giovanni’s house the evening after he had purchased it. “I have never played in company because I have my strategy that I do not say.” Ricardo explained, “it is true that I was at Giovanni’s house when I started to scratch the card. When I discovered the win I celebrated, and he asked if he could take a photo.” 

  Ricardo, who had already won 800,000 euros shortly before the larger win of 2 million, continued, “I have 800,00 euros in the bank, and I had already that thought that I would give them 80,000 each, Giovanni has to fix his teeth and Christian has a lot of debt.” He maintained that the pact never existed. 

  The prosecutor requested a sentence of three years for embezzlement for the Brazilian, and the division of the winnings: 600,000 euros for Ricardo, who bought the ticket, and 500,00 each for the other two friends.

lw