Man mistakenly sent 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 reduction cash 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 person is unlikely to have the ability to return the money transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in accordance with his lawyer, who said a resolution via litigation is being considered.

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

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

Last Thursday, the town sued the person for around 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus legal fees. According to the city, 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 grew to become unreachable after the city filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had kept his telephone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

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

All the amount was transferred to the person's bank account on April 8.