Taichung man wins top lottery, donates nearly NT$40 million

Taipei, May 22 (CNA) A Taichung resident has donated nearly NT$40 million (US$1.3 million) in prize money to charities after winning the NT$100 million top prize in Taiwan's Grand Lottery with a NT$200 purchase in March this year, Taiwan Lottery Co., Ltd. said Monday.

The man in his 50s, a manager with a manufacturing company in the old economy sector, bought the Grand Lottery winning ticket with four numbers selected by computer at an outlet in Taichung's Dajia District when visiting a friend living nearby on March 14, Taiwan Lottery General Manager Hsieh Chih-hung (謝志宏) told a news conference in Taipei.

However, the man was unable to collect the prize money after experiencing a cardiac emergency when visiting his friend and requiring cardiac catheterization, according to Hsieh.

After recovering, the man decided to donate half of the prize money, NT$39.4 million following a deduction of 20 percent in tax, to seven entities -- Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City Government, three charitable foundations and two temples, Hsieh said.

In terms of the company's lotto sales, total sales had reached NT$84.5 billion this year as of Sunday, a 12 percent year-on-year increase, according to Hsieh, who was upbeat about hitting the annual target of NT$140 billion for 2023.