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 reduction cash by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on overseas on line casino sites, sources near the matter stated Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to have the ability to return the money transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, according to his lawyer, who stated a resolution by means of litigation is being thought of.

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

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

Last Thursday, the town sued the person for round 51 million yen for the complete return of the funds plus legal charges. In response to the city, the man had refused to return the cash, 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 grew to become unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit against him, saying that police had saved 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 every 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 name was at the top of the checklist.

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