SONGKHLA: A young Myanmar woman who won a lottery first-prize worth 6 million baht last week, less than a year after she started working at a fish canning factory, has already cashed in the ticket and plans to go back home with her winnings.
Thiri Shwe Sin, 21, received a cheque when she cashed in her first-prize ticket, No.026853, for the Feb 1 draw at the Government Lottery Office, and deposited it at a Krungthai Bank branch in Hat Yai district, Songkhla.
Her windfall was 5,970,000 baht after paying stamp duty of 30,000 baht. At the bank she received credit for 5,958,060 baht after fees were deducted.
The win has totally changed the young migrant's life.
Ms Thiri bought the lucky ticket from a lottery vendor in front of the Songkhla Canning Co factory where she works. It was only the third ticket she had bought in the nine months she has been here.
Her Myanmar friend told her that 6 million baht was equivalent to 240 million kyat, and that will make her an instant multi-millionaire back home.
Ms Thiri is now under the care of the Migrant Workers Rights Network's Hat Yai branch.
An MWRN staffer who gave his name as Mr Bayee accompanied her to get the cheque and helped her open a KTB bank account and deposit her winnings.
Speaking through an interpreter, the smiling young woman said she would wire all the money to her parents in Myanmar, and they would take care of it for her. Some of it would be used to make merit.
She would soon return home to Yangon to live with her parents and siblings. There are seven people in her family. She would decide later about her future. So far, she had never even thought about having a boyfriend.
Mr Bayee said Ms Thiri was worried about having so much money after winning the lottery. So, the MWRN suggested she stay there pending her return to Myanmar.
Staff would also accompany her to Yangon for her own safety, he said.
The happy Myanmar woman was greeted by customers and bank staff when she arrived at the branch on Tuesday. They came to congratulate her and asked to have their photos taken with the lucky winner.
Thiri Shwe Sin, 21, shows a bank account detailing her deposits of the money from the first-prize lottery ticket. (Photo by Assawin Pakkawan)
The Government Lottery Office issued this cheque for 5.97 million baht to first-prize winner Thiri Shwe Sin, a Myanmar national. Stamp duty was deducted from the 6-million-baht prize. (Photo by Assawin Pakkawan)