Childhood buddies become million-dollar winners
I called my mother back home to tell her about the win. She refused to believe that I’d won and disconnected the call.”
Francis Sebastian, winner
I thought someone was playing a prank. Later, when I called Francis and crosschecked the numbers, we realised we’d won.”
Pinto Paul Thommana, winner
sharjah — Childhood buddies Pinto Paul Thommana and Francis Sebastian were in for a real surprise on Tuesday morning.
The Sharjah-based Indian residents from Thrissur, Kerala, received a call from the Dubai Duty Free on Tuesday morning about their $1 million win in the latest Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire draw.
“I thought someone was playing a prank,” Thommana told Khaleej Times late Tuesday afternoon. “Later, when I called Francis and cross-checked the numbers, we realised we’d won.”
Thommanna, a foreman at the Fantastic Auto Maintenance Workshop in Sharjah, is father of two children and has been living and working in the UAE for 12 years now. His wife Dhanya Devasi works as a school nurse at the GEMS FirstPoint School.
The duo purchased the ticket in Thomanna’s name early last month. They studied at the same school until Grade 10 in Irinjalakkuda town in Thrissur. “Pinto moved to the UAE 12 years ago, and in a way, I followed him,” said Sebastian.
Sebastian, an employee of Arabian Automobiles, has reason to be doubly happy since April 10 also happens to be his wife Leonie Francis’s birthday.
“We even had a discussion two weeks ago. I told my wife that if I were to win the lottery, I would buy her a costly gift,” said Sebastian.
He added: “I called my mother back home to tell her about the win. She refused to believe that I’d won and disconnected the call.”
Francis had purchased the ticket five times, and each time he would prank his mother back home, saying that he’s won. “This time she didn’t believe me at all… It was only after a friend called and convinced her, she came to terms with it,” he added.
The friends have not decided what to do with their prize money. However, they will both continue to live and work here in the UAE.
“There are no plans of going back to India as of now… We will stay here,” said Thommana.
Other winners
Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, three more winners were announced in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Promotion. Ricky McCrite, a 51-year-old American national from Al Ain, won the Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe (Guards Red). McCrite, who works as a standardisation instructor pilot for UAE Global Aerospace Logistics, bought his first ever ticket when he was travelling to USA for a holiday.
Another car winner was Mohammad Fatan, a Saudi Arabian national from Jeddah who won the Porsche Panamera 4. Oscid Mansoor, a 35-year-old Australian national based in Dubai, won the BMW S 1000 XR motorbike.