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 money by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it 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 city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in keeping with his lawyer, who stated a resolution by means of litigation is being thought of.

Abu Mayor Norihiko Hanada speaks to reporters on Might 12, 2022, at the Abu city workplace 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 utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer stated that the man lives alone and no one else is believed to be involved in the matter.

Last Thursday, the city sued the man for round 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus authorized charges. Based on 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 person's lawyer has refuted claims that he became unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit towards him, saying that police had stored his phone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

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 completed, a city official mistakenly submitted a single switch request to a financial institution for 46.3 million yen for the person whose name was on the prime of the listing.

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