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 reduction cash by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad casino sites, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to have the ability to return the money transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in accordance with his lawyer, who stated a decision by means of 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)

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 said that the man lives alone and no one 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 authorized charges. In response to the town, the man had refused to return the money, 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 against him, saying that police had saved his cellphone following voluntary questioning in April and Could.

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

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