Street vendor on Phuket’s Bangla Rd wins B6 million on lottery

PHUKET: A woman who makes her living selling cigarettes on Phuket’s Bangla Rd, in Patong, hit the jackpot yesterday (Feb 16), when she won B6 million on the national lottery.

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By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 17 February 2016, 11:30AM

Bangla street vendor Phuongpeng Boonphet and her boyfriend present the pair of lottery tickets that won B6 milliom. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Phuongphen Boonphet, 45, from Buriram, presented her winning tickets at Kathu Police Station at 6pm.

Ms Phuongphen arrived at the station with her boyfriend and present a pair of lottery tickets bearing the number 356364.

Lt Col Pramuan Jaikrathok, beaming a smile over Ms Phuongphen’s good fortune, received the report of the winning tickets.

It is common practice for lottery winners to present their winning tickets to the nearest police station as soon as possible to prevent loss, theft or fraudsters from costing the genuine lottery winners their prizes.

“On Monday night (Feb 15) while I was working, a lottery vendor came by and asked me to help out by buying a pair of lottery tickets,” Ms Phuongphen explained.

“I grabbed one without checking how many tickets were left with the same number. I buy lottery tickets often, but I don’t expect to win – I just wanted to help a friend out because I understand how hard it is to stand on your feet all day long and walking from place to place try to make a living,” she said.

“I never thought I would win a jackpot and I have no plans just yet of what I want to do with the money, but for now I just want to make merit at temples first,” Ms Phuongphen said.