Man mistakenly sent 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 money by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on overseas on line casino websites, sources near the matter stated Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to have the ability to return the cash transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in accordance with his lawyer, who mentioned a resolution via litigation is being considered.

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

Talking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer mentioned the person had instructed him that he had moved the cash out of his account utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer stated that the man lives alone and no one else is believed to be concerned in the matter.

Last Thursday, the city sued the man for around 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus authorized charges. In keeping with the city, 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 grew to become unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had saved his telephone following voluntary questioning in April and Might.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 relief cash to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been completed, a city official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a monetary institution for 46.3 million yen for the man whose title was at the prime of the listing.

The complete quantity was transferred to the man's checking account on April 8.