On a typical Tuesday in the bustling heart of Bangkok, the Crime Suppression Division’s usually quiet façade was buzzing with the media frenzy surrounding a well-known lawyer. Sittra Biabungkerd, embroiled in a scandal of alleged fraud involving a jaw-dropping Euromillions jackpot, faced the cameras and microphones for the first time since the explosive story broke.
In a case that seems to have leapt straight from the pages of a suspense novel, the dramatic tale centers around a Thai woman’s remarkable fortune—a colossal 10 billion baht win from Euromillions, Europe’s grand lottery. Yet, what should have been a dream come true quickly unraveled into a nightmare, with Ms. Jatuporn Ubonlert’s claim that Sittra tricked her out of a whopping 100 million baht. The woman, affectionately dubbed “Madame Oy,” certainly never expected her good fortune to come tangled in such controversy.
Sittra, addressing the press at the police station, dismissed any notion of skulking in the shadows, though he admitted his recent inaccessibility was due to a changed phone number. His change was no act of secrecy but a necessary move after persistent reporters breached his privacy, he explained. “I am not hiding. I’ve been right here in Bangkok all along,” he insisted, outlining the dogged tailing by police that seemed more like an episode of a cop drama rather than a real-life incident.
The lawyer made it clear that he was eager to clear his name, and, frustrated by the lack of action, proactively appeared at the station himself. The night before, police had followed him to a local convenience store, and their vehicles were a constant presence outside his home. “When will you question me?” he queried. He was more than ready to offer his account—one that he claims is misunderstood.
Inviting police into his home without a warrant wasn’t enough to quench the discomfort of being under constant watch. “Let’s have the discussion,” Sittra urged, implying an innocence that sharply contrasted with the serious allegations against him.
Yet, the plot thickens when Sittra outlines his version of events. He claims that the large sums of money, which have come under scrutiny, were not stolen but gifted. The 71 million baht was, according to him, a favor. That’s not all—allegedly, 39 million baht was sent to a third party for organizing a visit from a Chinese actor, a visit that never materialized. The twist? It turns out, Madame Oy, dazzled by an Instagram account allegedly belonging to the actor, was caught in a web spun by someone posing as an international movie star.
As these tales of digital currency transfers and private detective escapades unfold, Sittra contends he had advised caution to Madame Oy regarding an apparent scam when demands for “bodyguard fees” started cropping up. But, in an unexpected turn, she insisted he make the payments anyway.
Denying further accusations, Sittra also rejected claims about design fees fraud and issues involving a luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicle, which remains registered in the rightful owner’s name, he confirmed.
Meanwhile, Ms. Jatuporn’s legal representative, Somchart Pinit-aksorn, amplified the stakes by revealing further financial transactions — from a 71 million baht online lottery project to a fancy car, a hotel design priced at 9 million baht, and even a residence design for Madame Oy’s French husband.
In a world where truth often blurs with fiction, every new detail sheds light on an increasingly intricate tale. As investigations continue, one thing’s for certain: in the realm of high-stakes lottos and legal drama, reality often leaves fiction trailing breathlessly in its wake. And while the allure of a lottery win promises fairy-tale endings, stories like these remind us that sometimes those seemingly golden tickets are the beginning of a completely unexpected saga.
Euromillions, known for creating euphoric millionaires across the continent, notes that its biggest prize to date was a staggering €240 million, snagged by an anonymous winner in Austria in December 2023. And although that colossal sum dwarfs Madame Oy’s claim, her 10 billion baht adventure is just another chapter in the exciting, albeit occasionally tumultuous, world of lottery winners.
This story sounds like a bad plot twist from a B-movie. How does someone ‘gift’ 71 million baht when there’s a scam involved?
Exactly! It doesn’t add up. Either Sittra is the world’s worst financial advisor or something more sinister is going on.
Maybe the whole thing is just a publicity stunt. Lawyers and scandals, after all, do tend to get a lot of attention.
Come on, guys. Scams involve both deception and trust. They played on her lottery win high.
It’s shocking how easily people can get scammed even after winning such a huge amount. Is greed that blinding?
Wealth can make people vulnerable. It’s psychological; the euphoria clouds their judgment.
Still, you’d think anyone winning that much money would hire someone credible to manage it, not get tangled with questionable advisors.
Seems like the Thai lottery should come with a legal battle warning. This isn’t the first case of winners facing deception.
True. Every big win attracts leeches and con artists. People should be educated before claiming such wins.
The real villains are the ones exploiting legal loopholes to take advantage of people. Hopefully, justice prevails for Madame Oy.
I agree, but Madam Oy should also be held accountable for some poor decisions. Protecting against scams is a two-way street.
True, however, I doubt she anticipated dealing with such sophisticated deceit.
Sounds like another day in the life of tabloids. These so-called ‘high society’ folks always have such crazy stories.
To an extent, yes, but this is also a lesson on how modernization makes cybercrime easier.
Modernization sure has its side effects. I can barely keep my own bank details safe with all these scams running.
No surprise here, Thai legal dramas never disappoint. But why isn’t more being done to prevent these scams before they happen?
Prevention is tough. Scammers always stay one step ahead of the system. It needs a collective effort.
All this talk of scams aside, it’s a reminder of the dangers of social media fame. Who would’ve thought Instagram could lead to this?
I’m skeptical of Sittra’s story. The gifted money angle is a bit too convenient for someone in hot water.
Right? Feels like a poorly crafted escape route. I wonder what his next move will be.
Probably lawyering up harder or simply laying low until the buzz dies down.
It’s intriguing how the power dynamics play out in big money cases. Sittra’s not the first to get trapped like this.
I think a deeper issue is how society idolizes wealth without teaching financial literacy. These scams exploit ignorance.
Spot on. Basic money management should be taught everywhere, especially to lottery winners.
Feels like every big lottery win should have mandatory financial counselling sessions before they get their hands on the money.
I honestly feel for Madame Oy. It’s easy to fall for scams, especially when you’re on top of the world with a lottery win.
Overall, this scandal is a wild ride that mixes money, media, and mistrust. We’re just getting popcorn to watch how it unfolds!