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 aid money by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on overseas casino websites, sources close to the matter stated 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 resolution via litigation is being considered.

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

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

Final Thursday, the town sued the man for around 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus legal charges. Based on the city, the man had refused to return the money, 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 grew to become unreachable after the city filed the lawsuit towards him, saying that police had saved his cellphone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 reduction cash to every of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a town official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a monetary establishment for 46.3 million yen for the person whose title was at the high of the record.

Your entire amount was transferred to the man's bank account on April 8.