Man mistakenly sent 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 cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on overseas casino sites, sources near the matter stated Tuesday.

The person is unlikely to have the ability to return the money transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in keeping with his lawyer, who stated a resolution via litigation is being considered.

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

Talking at a press conference Monday, the lawyer stated the man had advised him that he had moved the cash out of his account utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer mentioned that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be involved within the matter.

Last Thursday, the city sued the person for around 51 million yen for the total return of the funds plus legal fees. In accordance with the city, the person had refused to return the cash, 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 in opposition to him, saying that police had saved his cellphone following voluntary questioning in April and Might.

On April 6, after procedures to transfer 100,000 yen in COVID-19 relief cash 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 institution for 46.3 million yen for the man whose name was at the prime of the checklist.

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