Man mistakenly despatched 46.3 mil. yen in COVID funds gambles all of it 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 overseas on line 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 response to his lawyer, who stated a decision through litigation is being thought of.

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

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

Last Thursday, the town sued the person for around 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus authorized fees. According to the town, the man had refused to return the money, saying it was "moved from my account and can't be returned. I will atone for my sins."

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

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

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