By Desire Emmanuel, with Agency Reports
A factory worker in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, is being sued by his company for refusing to return over 7 million rubles ($87,000) paid into his bank account by mistake due to a software glitch, the country’s media reported.
When Vladimir Rychagov, the factory worker, received a notification from his banking app at the beginning of this month, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Apart from the 46,954 rubles ($581) he knew he was owed as vacation pay, he had also received a mega-bonus of 7,112,254 rubles ($87,000).
There had been rumours among his colleagues that the company was preparing 13th salary for them after a prosperous year, but he never expected anything like what he saw in his account.
However, his joy of becoming a millionaire was short-lived as he soon started receiving phone calls from the accounting department to let him know that he had been transferred the 7 million rubles by mistake and he had to return it.
After doing some research online, Vladimir decided not to return the money to the coffers of the company.
“After checking the internet, I found that if it was a technical error, it was up to me to return it, but if it was a billing error, I was obligated to return it,” Rychagov told Channel 5.
“Later, I learned it was a technical error and decided I had the right to keep the money,” he added.
According to reports, the money was intended to pay the salaries of 34 employees at a completely different branch.
However, due to a software glitch, it was mistakenly transferred to Rychagov, so he was supposed to return it.
However, in his defence during a court proceeding over the matter, the worker claimed that the funds had been received in the name of the company, not a specific branch, and were listed as “salary” in the payment order, so he was entitled to them.
Vladimir Rygachov claimed that his company’s requests to return the money soon turned into threats, so he just used his newfound fortune to buy a new car and move to another city with his family.
While they were en route to their new home, a lawsuit was filed against Rygachov by the factory and his bank accounts were frozen.
“A complaint was filed against me alleging that I was in collusion with an accountant and committed some kind of economic fraud,” Rychagov recalled, adding that the accusations were quickly dismissed due to lack of evidence.
The employer didn’t just give up on the 7 million rubles, and a lengthy court battle began. The courts of first instance and appeal sided with the employer, noting that no overdue payments had been owed to the employee at the end of the reporting period, and the 7 million ruble payment was not considered salary.
Therefore, Rygachov was obliged to return the 7 million rubles. The factory worker filed a cassation appeal, but the original ruling was upheld.
But the fight for the 7 million rubles isn’t over yet. Vladimir Rygachov appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, where it was accepted for consideration. He still considers himself entitled to the money, and has no plans to return it.
“My bank account received a deposit of 45,000 rubles for vacation pay for January. And a deposit of 7,112,000 rubles for October salary,” Rygachov said. “October salary has been credited, plus there were rumours that there would be a large 13th salary, which suggested the facilities closed well.”
Russian media tried contacting the man’s employer to get their point of view, but the company’s acting CEO, Roman Tudachkov, was very reserved in his statement, saying only that the company would use all legal means to resolve the issue.
