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 reduction money by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad on line casino websites, sources near the matter mentioned Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to be able to return the money transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in keeping with his lawyer, who stated a resolution by way of litigation is being thought of.

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

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

Final Thursday, the town sued the man for round 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus legal fees. In response to the town, the man had refused to return the money, saying it was "moved from my account and cannot be returned. I'll atone for my sins."

The person's lawyer has refuted claims that he became unreachable after the city filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had saved 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 each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a town official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose identify was at the high of the record.

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