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They announced the lucky winner today. But instead of simply giving him the money, the staff decided to play little prank on him. Our news team was there to see it unfold, and Daniel Ortiz has that story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
During his lunch break from work, Paul Ruiz walked through the front doors of Courts' Belize City Headquarters. He came to pick up his prize from a raffle he won.

He was told that he won a microwave, but little did he know, that was a ruse. What he actually won was a cash prize of $30,000, and he was about to be given a cheque for that amount.

The employees at Courts wanted to capture his genuine surprise and delight, so they told him to come pick up this "microwave":

Grisel Carballo - PR Officer, Unicomer
"He doesn't know that he is the winner of course. He knows that he won, we told him that he won a microwave to spice it up and make it more fun. He's coming here, he was all excited because he won a microwave from Courts little does he know that he's not going to walk away with a microwave but 30 thousand dollars cash."

So, he was greeted at the door, and because there was already such a big commotion about his entrance, he began to get suspicious.

Reporter
"What did you do to win this microwave? What did you do?"

Paul Ruiz - Won $30,000
"I shopped at Courts."

Reporter
"You look shock. Are you shock?"

Paul Ruiz - Won $30,000
"I'm kind of confused all of this just for a microwave?"

Reporter
"All of this for your microwave indeed. This is the best microwave you will ever get in your entire life trust me."

That was one heck of a microwave indeed. In fact, when he opened it, he appeared very surprised

Reporter
"You had no idea and you are about to get 30 thousand dollars richer. You still appear to be shocked."

Paul Ruiz - Won $30,000
"No."

Reporter
"What will you do with 30 thousand dollars?"

Paul Ruiz - Won $30,000
"I can't do it that big like how Courts do it big."

Reporter
"What's the plan for Christmas?"

Paul Ruiz - Won $30,000
"It will be a good Christmas for sure."

Ruiz told us that he can see where this sudden stroke of good fortune could be put to good use.

Paul Ruiz - Won $30,000
"I will definitely do some home improvements, get some other appliances. I am a recent home owner so I will continue finish with the other stuff that the house need. I'm still in shock so honestly I'm not sure. It just feels really good to shop at courts and I'm grateful for the raffle."

Grisel Carballo - PR Officer, Unicomer
"In August we recently had a Whirlpool raffle whereby one lucky person, one of our lucky customers would have won a Wingle, so we had done that before. Now this one is a little bit different. Whirlpool had decided to partner up with courts and say why don't we give one of our lucky customer's 30 thousand dollars cash. All our customers had to walk into any Courts' store, buy any Whirlpool products and they were entered into a chance. If you were a credit customer you doubled your chances."

Reporter
"Any final words you want to say to the folks here at courts?"

Paul Ruiz - Won $30,000
"Thanks and of course I will continue to shop at courts."

Reporter
"That's the best answer you could get buddy, congratulations to you."