Man mistakenly despatched 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 relief cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on overseas casino websites, sources close to the matter mentioned Tuesday.

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

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

Talking at a press conference Monday, the lawyer stated the person had informed him that he had moved the money out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer said that the man lives alone and no one 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 authorized charges. In keeping with the town, 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 man's lawyer has refuted claims that he turned unreachable after the city filed the lawsuit against 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 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 financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose identify was at the prime of the listing.

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