A worker at a factory received a significant sum of money, almost 34 times his usual salary, due to an error in payment processing. Following this unexpected windfall, the worker made the decision to leave his job and relocate to a different city in Russia.
Vladimir Rychagov, employed in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, was on a brief unpaid leave when he discovered the error. Instead of receiving his holiday pay and regular salary, he found the salaries of 34 coworkers deposited into his bank account, totaling 7.1 million roubles, approximately £67,000.
Despite the company’s attempts to rectify the mistake, Vladimir chose to retain the funds, citing it as a “technical error.” He proceeded to purchase a vehicle and move his family to Khabarovsk, a city closer to Japan than Europe. Subsequently, he engaged in a legal dispute with his former employer.
Initially accused of complicity in diverting the funds, Vladimir was cleared of any wrongdoing after authorities found no evidence to support the claim. Although there are discussions about the potential obligation to return the money as it is deemed a company issue, Vladimir intends to escalate the matter to Russia’s Supreme Court.
Citing his research on the internet, Vladimir asserted that due to the technical nature of the error, he is under no obligation to return the funds. He remains firm in his decision to retain the money, emphasizing his right to do so.
Reports indicate that the erroneous transfer was meant for a different branch of the company where Vladimir was employed. The company’s acting CEO, Roman Tudachkov, acknowledged the payment error and stated their intent to address the situation through legal channels.
Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, such as in Chile in 2022, where a worker received a significantly inflated payment, prompting him to resign and disappear after initially considering returning the money.
