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 relief cash by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on abroad casino websites, sources near the matter mentioned Tuesday.

The man is unlikely to be able to return the money transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in accordance with his lawyer, who mentioned a decision by means of litigation is being thought of.

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

Speaking at a press conference Monday, the lawyer stated the man had advised him that he had moved the money out of his account utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer stated that the man 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 total return of the funds plus authorized charges. According to the town, the man had refused to return the cash, 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 towards him, saying that police had stored his phone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 reduction money to every of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a city official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a financial institution for 46.3 million yen for the person whose identify was at the prime of the checklist.

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