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 aid cash by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad casino websites, sources close to the matter said 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 line with his lawyer, who said a resolution by way of litigation is being thought of.

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

Talking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer said the person had informed him that he had moved the cash out of his account utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer mentioned that the man lives alone and no one else is believed to be involved within the matter.

Final Thursday, the town sued the man for around 51 million yen for the full 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 cannot be returned. I will atone for my sins."

The person's lawyer has refuted claims that he grew to become unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had stored his phone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 reduction money to every of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been completed, a town official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the person whose title was at the high of the record.

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