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

A 24-year-old man mistakenly sent 46.3 million yen ($360,000) in COVID-19 reduction money by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad 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, based on his lawyer, who said a decision by way of litigation is being considered.

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

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

Last Thursday, the city sued the person for round 51 million yen for the total return of the funds plus authorized charges. In keeping with the town, the person 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 became unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit towards him, saying that police had kept his cellphone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

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 person whose identify was on the top of the checklist.

All the amount was transferred to the man's checking account on April 8.