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

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

The man is unlikely to be able to return the cash transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in keeping with his lawyer, who stated a decision through litigation is being thought of.

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

Speaking at a press conference Monday, the lawyer said the person had told him that he had moved the cash out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer stated that the man lives alone and no one else is believed to be concerned in the matter.

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

The man's lawyer has refuted claims that he became unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit against him, saying that police had stored his telephone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 aid money to every of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a town official mistakenly submitted a single switch request to a financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose name was on the high of the checklist.

Your entire quantity was transferred to the person's bank account on April 8.