TOKYO (TR) – Following revelations last year that a 32-year-old male employee with Fuji Television Network arranged for the purchase of a luxury automobile in his name for a member of an organized crime group, it has now been learned that the employee also extended a loan of more than two million yen to the gangster, reports the Asahi Shimbun (Mar. 23).
According to the network, the employee, a former reporter, loaned a total of about 2.3 million yen in cash to a 59-year-old member of the the Yamaguchi-gumi beginning in April of 2013. About 1.7 million yen of that amount has yet to be repaid by the gang member.
The case first emerged in December of last year, when it was learned via the Tokyo Metropolitan Police that in 2015 the employee, then a reporter, arranged for a loan for the purchase of a luxury foreign automobile in his name and handed it over to the gang member, with whom he became acquainted through his work. As well, the pair dined together at restaurants at the expense of the gang member on more than 20 occasions.
The employee was subsequently removed from duties as a reporter duties by the network.
On Wednesday, papers on the employee and gang member were sent to prosecutors over the car loan. The employee, who has been accused of falsification of an electronic document, registered the vehicle in his name with the land ministry, according to NHK (Mar. 22).
Though nationwide legislation enacted in 2011 prohibits the fostering of activities of organized crime groups, no charges have yet been lodged over the loans extended to the gang member.
On the Fuji TV program “Everybody’s News” on Wednesday, the network presented the results of an internal investigation into the case. It indicated that the reporter felt heavy pressure to get scoops and the training provided to him at the workplace was inadequate. “We will strive to restore confidence by thoroughly managing and educating reporters to prevent a recurrence,” the network said.
