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 money by the western Japan town he resides in, says he gambled all of it away on overseas casino websites, sources close to the matter stated Tuesday.

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

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

Talking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer stated the man had advised him that he had moved the cash out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer said that the man lives alone and no one else is believed to be concerned within the matter.

Last Thursday, the town sued the man for around 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus authorized fees. Based on the city, the person had refused to return the money, 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 became unreachable after the city filed the lawsuit in opposition to him, saying that police had saved his phone following voluntary questioning in April and Might.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 relief cash 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 establishment for 46.3 million yen for the person whose identify was at the high of the checklist.

Your entire quantity was transferred to the person's checking account on April 8.