The two men embroiled in a 30-million-baht jackpot-winning lottery ticket dispute refused to back down as the civil court began hearing the case in Kanchaburi yesterday.
The dispute involves Preecha Kraikruan, a teacher in Kanchanaburi who claims he purchased the winning tickets, and Pol Lt Jaroon Wimol, who was in possession of them until they were seized by authorities investigating the rival claims.
Mr Preecha lodged a police complaint against Pol Lt Jaroon for embezzlement in December. As a result, the awarding of the cash prize is on hold pending the conclusion of the dispute.
The case reached the provincial court yesterday with both parties in attendance. It was the first time the two men had met face to face since the case was made public late last year.
The court asked if they could settle the dispute without a trial. The two men, however, refused to back down.
Both were accompanied to court by their families. The civil case was filed by Mr Preecha against Pol Lt Jaroon.
The court agreed to hear the case and yesterday questioned Mr Preecha through his lawyer, who said his client has prepared 15 witnesses to testify. Some of the witnesses were questioned by police.
Mr Preecha, meanwhile, has 12 witnesses who will speak on his behalf in court. Witness examination is expected to commence in early May, according to a source.
Emerging from court yesterday, both men insisted they were the real owners of the winning tickets.
Mr Preecha asked the media to conduct fair and unbiased reporting of the case so as not to harm the investigation.
Pol Lt Jaroon said he felt relieved the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) had said the police investigation was drawing to a close.
The Central Investigation Bureau announced yesterday its officers will head to Kanchanaburi and question other lottery vendors in the area.
Last week, the CSD said it had found fresh evidence in connection with the case. However, it declined to say which claimant it favoured.
CSD commander Maitree Chimcherd said the evidence would be useful in setting the direction of the investigation. The findings were compiled by a team from the CSD's sub-division 5 that went to the western province to investigate.
