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 reduction cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad casino sites, sources near the matter said Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to have the ability to return the money transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, according to his lawyer, who mentioned a decision via litigation is being considered.

Abu Mayor Norihiko Hanada speaks to reporters on Could 12, 2022, on the Abu town workplace in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan. (Kyodo)

Speaking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer stated the man had told him that he had moved the money out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer said that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be involved within the matter.

Last Thursday, the city sued the man for round 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus legal charges. Based on the town, the person had refused to return the money, saying it was "moved from my account and can't be returned. I will atone for my sins."

The man's lawyer has refuted claims that he turned unreachable after the city filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had saved his cellphone following voluntary questioning in April and Might.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 aid money to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a town official mistakenly submitted a single switch request to a financial institution for 46.3 million yen for the person whose title was at the top of the record.

The whole amount was transferred to the man's checking account on April 8.