A town in Yamaguchi Prefecture that accidentally sent a resident ¥46.3 million in financial aid filed a lawsuit against the recipient on Thursday, seeking ¥51 million, including attorney's fees.

The decision to sue the recipient’s household was approved by the local assembly of Abu at its plenary session on Thursday. The town filed the lawsuit with the Hagi branch of the Yamaguchi District Court soon after.

"This is unacceptable,” Abu Mayor Norihiko Hanada said after the plenary session. “It’s not too late. I want (the recipient) to return the money given that it is valuable public money.”

The mistake occurred in early April when Abu officials were sending ¥100,000 to each of its 463 low-income households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But in the process, they mistakenly transferred an additional lump sum of ¥46.3 million to the man’s bank account.

According to the city, the 24-year-old recipient, whose name has not been released, initially agreed to return the money.

But the man later admitted to having moved the money, telling officials that he is unable to return it. He has been quoted as saying he is willing to “atone for the sin.” Since then, the town has not been able to contact him.

Information from Kyodo added