21 May 2010

Paraguay hire French lawyer to seek theft compensation

7:26 am on 21 May 2010

The Paraguayan world cup football team has hired a French lawyer to seek compensation from their hotel in the French Alps after a top team official was robbed of $150,000.

A man claiming to be the national team's director asked for the safety deposit box to be opened in the room where the cash had been kept, and the hotel staff obliged.

It's been reported that the thief dressed in sports gear pretending to be a member Paraguayan delegation.

The man had a key to the room, which he showed at the reception desk and claimed he was having trouble with the safe in that room - the staff helped him gain access, and he subsequently fled the scene after taking the money.

The South American side are in Group F at the World Cup with champions Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia.