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 relief cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled it all away on abroad on line casino websites, sources close to the matter mentioned Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to be able to return the cash transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in accordance with his lawyer, who mentioned a resolution by means of litigation is being considered.

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

Speaking at a press conference Monday, the lawyer stated the person had instructed him that he had moved the money out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer mentioned that the person lives alone and no one else is believed to be involved in the matter.

Last Thursday, the town sued the man for round 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus legal fees. In keeping with the city, the person 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 city filed the lawsuit towards him, saying that police had kept his cellphone following voluntary questioning in April and Could.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 relief money to each 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 on the top of the list.

Your complete quantity was transferred to the person's bank account on April 8.