A man from Somogy County, Hungary, found himself at the center of a financial drama after his employer mistakenly deposited a staggering 367 times his expected salary into his bank account. Rather than immediately rectifying the situation, the man opted to keep the windfall, citing concerns about returning to poverty.
The man, who remains unidentified, had taken up a brief position with a company in Kaposvar. He was slated to receive a modest sum of 92,549 forints ($260) for his limited tenure. However, an administrative oversight led to the accidental crediting of an astronomical 92,549 euros to his account. The blunder transpired due to the man submitting an Austrian bank account, triggering the company to erroneously pay him in euros, without converting the forints.
The tale took a more intriguing twist when the company realized its mistake and reached out to the beneficiary requesting the return of the excess payment. The man’s response, however, was less than cooperative. He asserted that he had lost access to the Austrian bank account in question, leaving the company no choice but to escalate the matter.
Subsequently, a police complaint was lodged, setting off a sequence of events that unveiled a web of financial maneuvers. An investigation revealed that the man had withdrawn approximately 15,500 euros from the Austrian account using a southern Hungarian ATM. These funds were then transferred to an alternate bank account.
The Kaposvár District Prosecutor’s Office entered the fray, collaborating with the company to freeze the accused individual’s Austrian bank account. A substantial portion of the erroneously paid sum, around 72,000 euros, was successfully recovered. Authorities remain optimistic about reclaiming the remaining funds.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the man now faces charges of appropriating property without permission. If found guilty, he could be subject to hefty fines, serving as a cautionary tale for those tempted to exploit such fortuitous errors.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ethical and legal obligations that accompany unexpected financial windfalls, and the far-reaching consequences that can arise from a single lapse in judgment. The courtroom drama that ensues will determine whether the man’s brief taste of opulence was worth the potential price he may now have to pay.
