Man mistakenly sent 46.3 mil. yen in COVID funds gambles all of it away

A 24-year-old man mistakenly sent 46.3 million yen ($360,000) in COVID-19 reduction cash by the western Japan city he resides in, says he gambled it all away on overseas casino sites, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.

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

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

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

Final Thursday, the town sued the man for around 51 million yen for the total return of the funds plus authorized fees. In line 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 man's lawyer has refuted claims that he turned unreachable after the town filed the lawsuit against him, saying that police had stored his phone following voluntary questioning in April and May.

On April 6, after procedures to switch 100,000 yen in COVID-19 reduction money to each of the 463 low-income households in Abu had been accomplished, a city official mistakenly submitted a single transfer request to a financial establishment for 46.3 million yen for the man whose title was at the prime of the record.

All the quantity was transferred to the man's checking account on April 8.