Man mistakenly despatched 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 aid cash by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad casino websites, sources near the matter mentioned 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 keeping with his lawyer, who stated a resolution 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 conference Monday, the lawyer said the person had advised him that he had moved the cash out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer mentioned that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be involved within the matter.

Last Thursday, the town sued the man for round 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus authorized charges. In accordance with the city, the person had refused to return the cash, 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 against him, saying that police had kept his phone following voluntary questioning in April and Could.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 aid cash to every of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been completed, a city official mistakenly submitted a single switch request to a financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose name was at the top of the record.

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