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 relief cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled it all away on overseas casino sites, sources near the matter said 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 stated a decision by way of litigation is being thought of.

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

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

Last Thursday, the town sued the man for round 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus legal fees. In accordance with the town, the person had refused to return the cash, 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 turned unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had stored his cellphone following voluntary questioning in April and Could.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 relief money 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 title was on the high of the list.

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