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

The person is unlikely to be able to return the money transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in accordance with his lawyer, who said a resolution via litigation is being thought-about.

Abu Mayor Norihiko Hanada speaks to reporters on Might 12, 2022, on the Abu city workplace 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 cash out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer mentioned that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be concerned in the matter.

Final Thursday, the town sued the person for round 51 million yen for the total return of the funds plus legal fees. In line with the city, the man had refused to return the money, saying it was "moved from my account and cannot be returned. I will atone for my sins."

The man's lawyer has refuted claims that he became 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 switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 reduction money to every of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a city official mistakenly submitted a single switch request to a monetary establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose name was at the top of the listing.

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