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 money by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad casino websites, sources close to the matter mentioned Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to be able to return the cash transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in response to his lawyer, who stated a resolution by way of litigation is being thought-about.

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

Speaking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer said the person had instructed him that he had moved the cash out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer said that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be concerned in the matter.

Last Thursday, the city sued the person for around 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus authorized fees. In keeping with the city, the man had refused to return the cash, 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 turned unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit towards him, saying that police had kept his telephone following voluntary questioning in April and Might.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 reduction money to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a town official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose name was at the top of the record.

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