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 city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on overseas casino sites, sources near the matter said Tuesday.

The man is unlikely to have the ability to return the cash transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in line with his lawyer, who said a resolution by means of litigation is being thought-about.

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

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

Final Thursday, the town sued the person for round 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus legal charges. In accordance with the town, the person had refused to return the money, saying it was "moved from my account and cannot be returned. I will atone for my sins."

The man's lawyer has refuted claims that he became unreachable after the city filed the lawsuit against him, saying that police had stored his telephone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 aid money to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a town official mistakenly submitted a single switch request to a monetary establishment for 46.3 million yen for the person whose name was on the prime of the listing.

Your complete amount was transferred to the man's checking account on April 8.