Man mistakenly sent 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 money by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad casino sites, sources close to the matter stated 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 keeping with his lawyer, who stated a decision by means of litigation is being thought of.

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

Speaking at a press conference Monday, the lawyer stated the person had advised him that he had moved the cash 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.

Final Thursday, the town sued the man for around 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus legal fees. In keeping with the town, the person had refused to return the money, saying it was "moved from my account and can't be returned. I'll atone for my sins."

The person's lawyer has refuted claims that he grew to become unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit towards him, saying that police had saved his telephone following voluntary questioning in April and Could.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 relief cash to every of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a city official mistakenly submitted a single switch request to a financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose identify was at the top of the list.

All the quantity was transferred to the man's bank account on April 8.