Man mistakenly despatched 46.3 mil. yen in COVID funds gambles all of it 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 it all away on overseas 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, according to his lawyer, who said a resolution by litigation is being considered.

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

Speaking at a press conference Monday, the lawyer mentioned the man had instructed him that he had moved the money out of his account utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer mentioned that the man lives alone and no one else is believed to be concerned in the matter.

Final Thursday, the city sued the man for round 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus authorized charges. In line with the city, the man 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 person's lawyer has refuted claims that he became unreachable after the city 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 switch 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 institution for 46.3 million yen for the person whose identify was on the top of the listing.

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