In April 2022, the town received nationwide attention after it mistakenly transferred its entire COVID-19 relief budget of 46.3 million yen (c. 358,000 USD) to a resident who subsequently lost the money in online casinos.
Two national routes passes through Abu, which include Route 191 and 315.
COVID-19 Relief Funds Incident
On April 8, 2022, a municipal official mistakenly transferred Abu's entire COVID-19 relief budget of 46.3 million yen (c. 358,000 USD) to Abu resident Sho Taguchi.[1][2] After promising to return the payment, Taguchi spent the money in online casinos.[1] The incident drew attention from Japan's national news media.[2] On May 18,[3] Taguchi was arrested and indicted for computer fraud for transferring 42.92 million yen of the 46.3 million yen to three online payment agents, knowing that the payment had been made in error.[1]
On May 24, the mayor of Abu, Norihiko Hanada, announced that almost 43 million yen of the money had been recovered.[3] On August 1, Taguchi was released on bail after paying 2.5 million yen, and commented that he is going to work and gradually pay the money back.[1]
^ abUeno, Hisako; Ives, Mike (2022-05-19). "A Town's Covid Money Was Sent to One Man in Error. He Gambled It All Away". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
^ ab"Mayor: Town regained nearly all funds it sent man by mistake | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
External links
Abu official website (in Japanese)
This article about a location in Yamaguchi Prefecture is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
yamaguchi, 阿武町, chō, town, located, district, yamaguchi, prefecture, japan, town, population, 2016, 阿武町townabu, town, officeflagemblemlocation, yamaguchi, prefectureabulocation, japancoordinates, 50333, 47139, 50333, 47139, coordinates, 50333, 47139, 50333, 47. Abu 阿武町 Abu chō is a town located in Abu District Yamaguchi Prefecture Japan The town had a population of 3 372 in 2016 Abu 阿武町TownAbu Town OfficeFlagEmblemLocation of Abu in Yamaguchi PrefectureAbuLocation in JapanCoordinates 34 30 12 N 131 28 17 E 34 50333 N 131 47139 E 34 50333 131 47139 Coordinates 34 30 12 N 131 28 17 E 34 50333 N 131 47139 E 34 50333 131 47139CountryJapanRegionChugokuSan yōPrefectureYamaguchi PrefectureDistrictAbuGovernment MayorNorihiko Hanada from May 2017 Area Total116 07 km2 44 81 sq mi Population October 1 2016 Total3 372 Density29 km2 75 sq mi Time zoneUTC 09 00 JST City hall address2636 Nako Abu cho Abu gun Yamaguchi ken759 3622Websitewww wbr town wbr abu wbr lg wbr jpSymbolsFlowerRhododendronTreeKusunokiIn April 2022 the town received nationwide attention after it mistakenly transferred its entire COVID 19 relief budget of 46 3 million yen c 358 000 USD to a resident who subsequently lost the money in online casinos Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2 1 Neighbouring municipalities 3 Transportation 3 1 Railway 3 2 Highways 4 COVID 19 Relief Funds Incident 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe town was founded on January 1 1955 Geography EditAbu is located within the north of the Yamaguchi prefecture and borders the Sea of Japan on the north Neighbouring municipalities Edit HagiTransportation EditRailway Edit JR West San in Main Line Utago Kiyo NagoHighways Edit Two national routes passes through Abu which include Route 191 and 315 COVID 19 Relief Funds Incident EditOn April 8 2022 a municipal official mistakenly transferred Abu s entire COVID 19 relief budget of 46 3 million yen c 358 000 USD to Abu resident Sho Taguchi 1 2 After promising to return the payment Taguchi spent the money in online casinos 1 The incident drew attention from Japan s national news media 2 On May 18 3 Taguchi was arrested and indicted for computer fraud for transferring 42 92 million yen of the 46 3 million yen to three online payment agents knowing that the payment had been made in error 1 On May 24 the mayor of Abu Norihiko Hanada announced that almost 43 million yen of the money had been recovered 3 On August 1 Taguchi was released on bail after paying 2 5 million yen and commented that he is going to work and gradually pay the money back 1 References Edit a b c d 日本放送協会 阿武町誤振込事件 田口被告を保釈 NHK 山口県のニュース NHK Retrieved 2022 08 01 a b Ueno Hisako Ives Mike 2022 05 19 A Town s Covid Money Was Sent to One Man in Error He Gambled It All Away The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2022 08 01 a b Mayor Town regained nearly all funds it sent man by mistake The Asahi Shimbun Breaking News Japan News and Analysis The Asahi Shimbun Retrieved 2022 08 01 External links EditAbu official website in Japanese This article about a location in Yamaguchi Prefecture is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abu Yamaguchi amp oldid 1130751066, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
