Man mistakenly despatched 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 town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on abroad casino websites, sources close to the matter stated Tuesday.

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

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

Talking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer stated the person had told him that he had moved the money out of his account utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer stated that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be involved within the matter.

Final Thursday, the town sued the person for round 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus authorized charges. In keeping with the town, the man had refused to return the cash, saying it was "moved from my account and cannot be returned. I'll atone for my sins."

The man's lawyer has refuted claims that he turned unreachable after the city filed the lawsuit against 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 cash 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 establishment for 46.3 million yen for the person whose name was at the top of the record.

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