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 relief money by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on overseas on line casino websites, sources near the matter stated Tuesday.

The man is unlikely to have the ability to return the money transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in line with his lawyer, who said a decision through litigation is being thought-about.

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

Speaking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer mentioned the man had told him that he had moved the money out of his account utilizing 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 authorized fees. In line with the town, the person 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 man's lawyer has refuted claims that he turned 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 relief cash to every of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been completed, a city official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose identify was at the prime of the checklist.

The whole quantity was transferred to the person's checking account on April 8.