JAKARTA - An undocumented migrant struggles to prove his identity to cash in a lottery prize of 250,000 euros or around Rp. 3,883,296,607 in Belgium.
The 28-year-old Algerian lottery installer bought a scratched lottery card for 5 euros a few weeks ago at Zeebrugge supermarket, but was unable to claim his winnings.
Alexander Verstraete, the youth's lawyer, told AFP news agency his client was trying desperately to prove his identity to Belgian authorities.
"My client is in an illegal situation, he does not have papers and a bank account", Verstraete said as reported by Euronews April 15.
"We are looking for documents that can prove his identity, he must contact his family in Algeria," he said.
Separately, the prosecutor's office in Bruges has opened an investigation to find the lucky winner.
Authorities were found to have the winning ticket after three of the man's friends, who are also from North Africa, tried to return the money.
The men were briefly held in police custody last week on suspicion of theft but have now been released.
According to Verstraete, the man had no intention of applying for asylum in Belgium and had been assured he would not be deported until he received his lottery prize.
According to the Belgian national lottery website, the Ca$h scratch card in question offers a "1 in 3.69" chance of winning. However, the retailer selling the tickets was unable to provide large cash prizes.
When winning tickets collect 250,000 euros, holders must claim their prize from the lottery headquarters in Brussels.
"Winners haven't appeared on our site, we haven't seen them yet, which precludes prize-giving procedures for now," said Joke Vermoere, a spokesman for the national lottery.
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