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Spanish Lottery Vendor Jailed for €4.7 Million Jackpot Fraud

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A Spanish court has sentenced a lottery vendor to three-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding the winner of a €4.7 million ($5.4 million) jackpot. According to court documents, the vendor discovered that a customer held the winning ticket in 2012 when asked to verify the numbers, but falsely claimed the ticket was not a winner.

The court found that the vendor then attempted to claim the jackpot for himself by alleging he had found the winning ticket in his lottery shop. However, lottery authorities withheld the payout and placed the ticket under custody while investigating its true ownership. Despite this, the vendor continued trying to obtain the prize over an eight-year period.

The legitimate ticket holder died in 2014 before receiving the winnings. The court ruled that the full jackpot should now be paid to the victim’s heirs and convicted the vendor of aggravated fraud. The judgment can still be appealed before Spain’s Supreme Court.

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ICC Suspends Prosecutor Karim Khan Amid Ongoing Misconduct Probe

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has suspended its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, with immediate effect as an investigation into misconduct allegations continues. The decision was taken by a committee within the court’s oversight body and has been referred to the ICC’s 125 member states, which will vote on Khan’s future during a special session. Khan has denied all allegations, while his legal team has called the suspension unfair and unsupported by evidence.

The allegations, first reported in 2024, involve claims of sexual misconduct and abuse of authority. An initial internal investigation was closed after the complainant chose not to participate, but a second inquiry led by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services examined thousands of pages of evidence and testimony between late 2024 and 2025. The findings are now being reviewed to determine whether Khan committed serious misconduct.

The case comes at a sensitive time for the ICC, which has faced political pressure following its actions related to the Gaza conflict. While some staff members have expressed concerns about Khan’s potential return, supporters argue that the allegations remain unproven. If member states decide to remove him from office, Khan could challenge the decision through international employment tribunals, potentially leading to a prolonged legal battle.

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Shakira Wins €55m Tax Refund in Spain Case

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A Spanish high court has ruled in favor of Colombian pop star Shakira, ordering the country’s tax authority to refund €55 million (£48 million) after determining the money was wrongly collected. The court said authorities failed to prove that the singer spent the required 183 days in Spain during 2011, meaning she could not legally be treated as a Spanish tax resident for that year.

The refund includes €24 million in income tax payments and nearly €25 million in penalties previously imposed for what tax officials had described as a serious infringement. Shakira welcomed the verdict, saying the decision “finally set the record straight” after years of public scrutiny, legal pressure, and personal stress affecting both her health and family.

The case is separate from Shakira’s earlier 2023 settlement with Spanish prosecutors over tax issues between 2012 and 2014, where she agreed to pay a fine while denying wrongdoing. The latest ruling comes as the global music star prepares to conclude her Women Don’t Cry Anymore world tour with a Madrid residency and upcoming performances linked to the FIFA Men’s World Cup final.

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Austrian Climber on Trial Over Girlfriend’s Death on Grossglockner

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A 33-year-old woman died of hypothermia on Austria’s highest peak, Grossglockner, during a January 2025 climbing trip, and her boyfriend, identified as Thomas P, now faces trial for gross negligent manslaughter. Prosecutors allege he left the woman unprotected and exhausted near the summit in stormy winter conditions while he went to get help. The case raises questions about the boundary between personal risk-taking and criminal liability in high-altitude mountaineering.

Authorities say the climber, as the more experienced partner, failed to properly prepare and guide the expedition. Alleged mistakes include starting late, bringing inadequate equipment, and ignoring signs of extreme exhaustion and dangerous weather. His lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, claims the couple was experienced, well-equipped, and that her death was a tragic accident. Webcam footage captured the boyfriend descending alone with a torch while the woman remained on the mountainside.

The trial could set a precedent for accountability in alpine sports, as the man faces up to three years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors argue his inaction and delayed notification to rescue services contributed to her death, while the defense emphasizes the unforeseeable and sudden nature of the emergency. The case has prompted debate within mountaineering communities on the responsibilities climbers have toward their partners.

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Swedish taxi driver murder: Five teenagers found guilty

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In a recent case in Uppsala, Sweden, four teenage brothers and a 15-year-old girl have been sentenced by the court for the murder of a taxi driver. The victim had been reported for rape by the girl, and the court found that he was lured to a nature reserve with the promise of sexual favors due to the earlier allegations. The taxi driver was overpowered, and his body was discovered a week later, hanging from a tree in what appeared to be a staged suicide.

The eldest brother, who was 18 at the time, received a life sentence, while the four younger individuals, who were minors during the events, were sentenced to three to four years in a young offenders’ institution. The three older brothers were convicted of murder, while the girl and her boyfriend, both 15 at the time, were found not to be at the scene but were convicted of aiding and abetting the murder.

Despite the teenagers denying their involvement, the court relied on circumstantial evidence presented by prosecutors. Messages exchanged between them were used as evidence of a murder plot. Four days before the victim disappeared, the girl messaged a friend about her rapist, stating, “His brothers are going to meet my rapist.” Subsequent messages discussed the timing of the murder, with one brother suggesting, “We should do Friday,” and another agreeing.

After the killing, one of the brothers used the victim’s phone to transfer money from his bank account. The girl claimed she was unaware of the brothers’ intention to kill the man, stating she thought they would only beat him up. However, the court, led by Lars Holmgard, the president of the Uppsala District Court, ruled that the brothers had planned the murder, evident from the time they purchased the rope used in the crime. Holmgard stated, “The plan must have been for [the victim] to be hanged from the rope, in our opinion.”

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