Man mistakenly sent 46.3 mil. yen in COVID funds gambles all of it away

A 24-year-old man mistakenly despatched 46.3 million yen ($360,000) in COVID-19 relief money by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on abroad casino websites, sources near the matter mentioned Tuesday.

The man is unlikely to be able to return the money transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in line with his lawyer, who mentioned a decision by means of litigation is being thought of.

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

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

Last Thursday, the city sued the person for around 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus legal charges. Based on the town, the man had refused to return the cash, saying it was "moved from my account and can't be returned. I'll atone for my sins."

The man'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 cellphone following voluntary questioning in April and Might.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 aid cash to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been completed, a city official mistakenly submitted a single switch request to a monetary institution for 46.3 million yen for the man whose identify was on the top of the record.

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