Man mistakenly sent 46.3 mil. yen in COVID funds gambles it all away

A 24-year-old man mistakenly despatched 46.3 million yen ($360,000) in COVID-19 relief cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on abroad on line casino sites, sources close to the matter stated Tuesday.

The man is unlikely to have the ability to return the cash transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in line with his lawyer, who stated a decision via litigation is being thought of.

Abu Mayor Norihiko Hanada speaks to reporters on May 12, 2022, on the Abu city office in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan. (Kyodo)

Speaking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer stated the man had instructed him that he had moved the cash out of his account utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer stated that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be concerned in the matter.

Last Thursday, the city sued the person for around 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus authorized fees. In keeping with the town, the man had refused to return the money, saying it was "moved from my account and can't be returned. I'll atone for my sins."

The person's lawyer has refuted claims that he grew to become unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit against him, saying that police had stored his phone following voluntary questioning in April and Might.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 aid cash to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a town official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a financial institution for 46.3 million yen for the person whose name was on the high of the listing.

The complete amount was transferred to the person's checking account on April 8.