“Lucky Covid swindler” .. 463 Japanese families disappear with relief money
A 24-year-old Japanese man has disappeared after seizing the equivalent of $358,000 in Covid relief funds intended for all families in Apo Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
RT quoted the local newspaper, Japan Today, as saying that the entire amount was transferred to him due to a clerical error by the city authorities, and the money was allocated to the Japanese town last month for distribution to 463 families.
The man in question was just one of many eligible to receive the money.
However, the city authorities sent the details of the intended recipients to a bank, along with the transfer order.
Local media reported that the man's account details were at the top of the list, and the bank mistakenly believed that this was an agent to whom all funds would be transferred before they were distributed to the beneficiaries' accounts.
Apo Mayor Hideki Nakamura apologized for the error and town officials tried to contact the man in an effort to recover the money.
On April 8, the man discovered that he had "won" the grand prize.
To avoid suspicion, he reportedly started withdrawing small amounts from his bank account on a daily basis for about two weeks.
The benefactor of the error did not contact the authorities until April 21, when the fraudster finally admitted receiving the money.
However, officials also informed that the full amount is now out of stock and cannot be returned.
But he vowed not to escape from justice.
"I will pay for my crime," he said.
Since the money was voluntarily transferred to the man, it was believed that he could not be charged with any crime.
So, it wasn't until May 12 when the city finally decided to file charges and demand the money back.
But the suspect broke his promise.
He left his job, liquidated his bank account and disappeared.
Some commentators blamed the Japanese government for the fatal mistake.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news