Japan: a man mistakenly receives 338,000 euros ... and refuses to return them
The 24-year-old promised that he would repay “little by little”.
© Shutterstock / Sergii Rudiuk
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
A municipality in a small town in southern Japan mistakenly paid the equivalent of 338,000 euros in allowances to one of its residents.
The recipient initially refuses to return the money.
The municipality lodged a complaint, then had him arrested when they learned that he had wasted this sum in online casinos.
The beneficiary says he is ready to repay it.
But is he telling the truth?
The case is, in any case, a big stir in Japan.
Advertisement
Read more
With our correspondent in Tokyo,
Frédéric Charles
Bank error in your favor?
Japan has
been
agitated for a month by a news item involving an overpayment.
Last month, the small town of Abu in Yamaguchi prefecture sent low-income households the equivalent of 730 euros in pandemic relief.
But it mistakenly pays an additional sum equivalent to 338,000 euros to one of its residents.
Money don't resurface
Alerted, municipal officials immediately visit the beneficiary to claim the amount unduly received.
The 24-year-old man assures that he will return the money.
But the days pass, the dunning letters follow and the money does not resurface.
Accompanied by the young man's mother, officials go to his place of work.
He admits having moved the money and being unable to return it.
But he says he is ready “
to expiate his sin
”.
He is stopped.
Make the sum “
little by little
”
Today, his lawyer says he spent it all in online casinos.
But, he says, his client is determined to return the money “
little by little.
»
A version in which the local authorities do not believe.
The mayor of Abu, Norihiko Hamada, thus assures doubt that the young man has spent everything.
Part of the money was thus transferred to another online account.
In the meantime, the municipality, responsible for the transfer, is crumbling under the calls of angry residents.
And says she's exhausted.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Japan
Crime
Currencies