Man found guilty of fraud over ¥46 mil COVID relief town gave him by mistake

Let us not forget the city used a floppy disk to transfer the data to their bank. Remarkably the data transferred without a hitch.

If he had any sense, he would have just fled to a country with no extradition treaty with Japan, with the cash.

What an idiot! Nearly half a million bucks and he chose to gamble it away.

 a town official mistakenly submitted to a financial institution a single transfer request of 46.3 million yen to Taguchi, whose name was at the top of the list.

Kind of par for the course for the people working at the Kuyakushou. Just the crowd to entrust with taxpayer money.

Suspended sentence. What a shocker.

I think if there was a way to sentence convicted criminals to a negative sentence, where they get credit against future convictions, the judges here would grant those.

IT IS NIT HIS FAULT, or is it!?

Will the prosecutors go after the city office staff for mishandling taxpayers funds???

What an idiot! Nearly half a million bucks and he chose to gamble it away.

But..

.. was given a suspended sentence on the grounds that he expressed remorse for his actions and the full amount was returned.

Computer fraud is pursued in cases when one profits illegally by entering "false information" in online banking and other systems.

But it was the one who sent the money who entered false info

Convicted felon now at a young age. Life will be hard. Hopefully he can quit his gambling addiction.

I actually feel sorry for him, and hope that his appeal is successful. I just don't like seeing the big boys using a little boy as a scapegoat for their own incompetence. No doubt, the judge was just rubber stamping the "morally superior" public prosecutor.

the mayor should be in jail, not this victim.

the 25 years old guy received money on his own bank account, it is therefore his property.

So none of the city hall buffoons get any penalties for causing the mishap in the first place?

big shocker there…….

everyone responsible should be punished right along with the perp in question.

He returned the FULL amount? Hmmm, I don't believe it.

I think I read somewhere that the gambling sites returned the money not him.

He stole from his own town people because that money was suppose to be intended to help everyone out. He can forget about finding a job in that town again. Who would hire a thief and gambler?

He stole from his own town people because that money was suppose to be intended to help everyone out. He can forget about finding a job in that town again. Who would hire a thief and gambler?

Who would want to live in a town with such an incompetent town council. Perhaps some IT training required. He did not technically steal the money, it was put into his bank account. No intent, no Mens Rea, no crime (except under Japan,'s third rate legal system). Maybe he should get a job with the town council and shape the place up. (Revert back to issuing cheques, it's always safer for everybody).

quote: Who would want to live in a town with such an incompetent town council.

It might be a nice place. You have to live somewhere, and local government is hardly ever competent. I'd settle for a lack of criminality and below average corruption, which is about the best you can hope for.

The man should go to jail, for sure. I saw him on Japanese television and he clearly looks like a bun-wearing wannabe. Who wears a bun these days? I am guessing he comes from a wealthy family since he is unemployed but still able to pay it back. Yes, don't judge a book by its cover you might say, but often one's assessments are spot on. I mean, to gamble it away online? In my experience, gamblers think they are smart enough to beat odds that were never meant to be beaten.

I do feel sorry for him a bit and feel it is a bit harsh. 2 years is enough. The mistake by the public servant was monumentally embarrassing and probably should be suspended for a few months for incompetence. I worked in a office before and don't they have people double checking things. Sometimes things get checked a third time. Better to be safe than sorry. Still can't get my head around the light sentences for this crime. See below.

Man gets 3 1/2 years in prison for Tokyo subway station acid attack - Japan Today

His defense should have been I accidently transfered the money to a different account.

Appearantly accidently transfering is an acceptable reason since the city official has not been charged or fired because of negligence.