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Aug 27, 2003, 6:36 am (2 comments)
An Italian Lottery syndicate won and lost a fortune when members were robbed at gunpoint as they divided up their £30,000 (US$47,000) winnings.
Five masked gunmen burst into the celebration party at a social club as the money was being handed out in envelopes and grabbed the cash before escaping in a waiting car.
Syndicate organiser Vincenzo Paviglianiti, 43, said: "We were just about to start handing out the money when five men burst in wearing masks.
"At first everyone laughed because they thought it was part of the party but then they started shouting and telling everyone to get on the floor and not to move.
"It was only after one of them fired a shot into the air that everyone realised it wasn't a joke. They took all the money but at least no-one was hurt. We shall have to just try again."
Police said the 40-strong syndicate may have been the victim of its own misfortune after advertising the party on posters at Reggio Calabria in southern Italy.
A spokesman said: "The syndicate had put up posters and balloons in the streets around their local social club and had invited neighbours to come and celebrate their win with them.
"In effect the robbers knew what was going to happen and that the money was going to be divided up at the celebration."
Lottery Post Staff
...and to think that the lottery was originally invented in Italy.
just more proof of having a trust and picking up the money by lawyer