TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a former temporary worker for Google Japan G.K. for allegedly impersonating another employee and sending false emails last year.
The arrest of Hiroyuki Ishibashi, 33, on Monday is his second in the case, reports Jiji Press (Feb. 2).
Between May and June, Hiroyuki Ishibashi allegedly posed as Google Japan employee in sending false emails to over 100 business partners, claiming that a senior employee had received a severe warning from the Labor Standards Inspection Office for harassment and illegal dismissal.
Upon his arrest on suspicion of obstruction of business operations by fraudulent means, Ishibashi denied the allegations.
Dissatisfied
Ishibashi began working as a temporary employee at Google Japan in 2023. He applied for a full-time position in August 2024. However, he was rejected. Police believe this caused him to become dissatisfied.
The arrest is the suspect’s second. On January 13, police fist arrested him on suspicion of trespassing. In that case, he allegedly broke into the company’s premises in mid-January last year with the intent of recording a management meeting.
Police later seized computers, external storage devices, IC recorders, and other items from his home and a coin-operated locker. Data such as the text of false emails and mailing lists was discovered.
Harassing emails
An internal investigation by the company revealed suspicions that he had sent harassing emails to former senior employees.
The company suspended him at the end of January last year. His temporary employment contract was terminated at the end of March.
The former senior employee’s new workplace has also received multiple threatening emails, including bomb threats. Police are investigating whether the cases are related.
