Crime Junior high school principal loses job, retirement pay over 240 yen

At an interview by board officials, the school head reportedly said he did it "on the impulse of the moment" and he was "truly sorry" for his misconduct. The principal also admitted to doing the same thing four times at another store--bringing the total amount he had scammed to 490 JPY. There are four levels of punishment used to discipline public servants. Dismissal is the most severe measure, followed by suspension from work, receiving a pay cut and being reprimanded, in that order. The guidelines for disciplinary actions set by the Hyogo prefectural government dictates that a public servant who has committed theft should be either suspended from work or dismissed. The board announced the principal's dismissal on 30 January, revoking his teaching license and forfeiting his retirement pay, for overfilling the three cups of coffee at the store where he was caught. Explaining the decision, the board said it ascertained that he was responsible for the theft, citing the prosecutors' judgment. When asked whether dismissal or suspension from work was the more appropriate response, a board official told The Asahi Shimbun that they decided on a "strict application" of the rules in the principal's case.

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thomas said:

Yes, stealing and embezzling is wrong. However, what about this case: a junior high school principal in Hyogo Prefecture lost his job and retirement pay, believed to be around 20 million JPY (USD 135,000), as punishment for overfilling his coffee at a convenience store. Critics have questioned the prefectural board of education's decision to apply the most severe penalty available, saying it is akin to giving a "death sentence" for an offence of little monetary loss. According to the board, the principal paid 110 yen at the counter of a convenience store to buy a regular-size coffee at a self-service coffee machine on 21 December.

However, a store clerk noticed that he filled his cup by pressing the button for a large coffee, which cost 180 JPY. When confronted, the 59-year-old principal admitted to cheating on his coffee purchase. He also revealed that he had done this at the same store twice before. Police sent files on the suspected theft to the Himeji branch of the Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office. Prosecutors acknowledged that he committed the theft but decided not to indict him.

Principal loses job, retirement pay for coffee theft at store | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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