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

The man is unlikely to have the ability to return the money transferred to him in error by the city of Abu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, according to his lawyer, who said a resolution via litigation is being considered.

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

Speaking at a press convention Monday, the lawyer mentioned the person had told him that he had moved the money out of his account using his smartphone. The lawyer said that the man lives alone and no one else is believed to be concerned in the matter.

Final Thursday, the city sued the person for around 51 million yen for the full return of the funds plus authorized charges. Based on the city, the person had refused to return the cash, saying it was "moved from my account and can't be returned. I'll atone for my sins."

The man's lawyer has refuted claims that he grew to become unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit against 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 reduction cash to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a city official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a monetary establishment for 46.3 million yen for the person whose identify was on the top of the record.

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