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 reduction money by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on overseas casino sites, sources near the matter mentioned Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to be able to return the money transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in accordance with his lawyer, who stated a resolution by way of litigation is being thought of.

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

Speaking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer said the person had instructed him that he had moved the money out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer said that the person lives alone and nobody else is believed to be concerned in the matter.

Last Thursday, the city sued the person for round 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus authorized charges. In accordance with the city, the man 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 against him, saying that police had kept his phone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 aid 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 high of the record.

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