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

A 24-year-old man mistakenly despatched 46.3 million yen ($360,000) in COVID-19 relief cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on overseas casino sites, sources close to the matter stated Tuesday.

The man is unlikely to have the ability to return the money transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in line with his lawyer, who stated a resolution by litigation is being considered.

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

Talking at a press conference Monday, the lawyer said the man had informed him that he had moved the money out of his account utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer stated that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be concerned within the matter.

Last Thursday, the town sued the person for round 51 million yen for the total return of the funds plus legal fees. Based on the town, the person had refused to return the money, saying it was "moved from my account and cannot be returned. I'll atone for my sins."

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

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

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