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 relief cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on abroad on line casino sites, sources close to the matter stated Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to be able to return the cash transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in line with his lawyer, who mentioned a decision by way of litigation is being considered.

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

Speaking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer said the man had informed 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 involved in the matter.

Last Thursday, the city sued the person for round 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus legal charges. In accordance with the city, the man had refused to return the cash, 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 turned unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had saved his phone following voluntary questioning in April and Could.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 relief cash to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been completed, a city official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a monetary establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose title was at the prime of the list.

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