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 aid cash by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on overseas casino websites, sources near the matter said Tuesday.

The man is unlikely to be able to return the money transferred to him in error by the town of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, based on his lawyer, who mentioned a decision by way of litigation is being thought of.

Abu Mayor Norihiko Hanada speaks to reporters on Might 12, 2022, at the Abu town 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 utilizing his smartphone. The lawyer stated that the man lives alone and nobody else is believed to be involved in the matter.

Last Thursday, the town sued the man for around 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus authorized fees. According to the city, the person 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 turned unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had saved his telephone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 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 financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the person whose title was at the top of the listing.

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