OSAKA (TR) – A former police officer here has admitted to stealing 10 million yen in cash from the home of a deceased man, telling a court he committed the theft to prevent his wife from discovering his secret gambling debts.
Shin Goto, a former assistant inspector at the Minami-Sakai Police Station, pleaded guilty during his first trial hearing at the Osaka District Court on Monday, admitting he pocketed the cash while on duty.
In March 2026, Goto was dispatched to an apartment complex to investigate the unattended death of a man in his 70s. While examining the scene, the officer stole approximately 10 million yen in cash that had been left behind by the deceased.
When questioned about his motive in court, Goto explained that his double life was on the verge of collapse. “I had a massive amount of gambling debt that I was keeping secret from my family,” he confessed.
Despite his position as a ranking police officer, Goto claimed his desperate fear of losing his family drove him to loot the crime scene. “I made a promise to my wife that she would divorce me if I ever went into debt. I didn’t want to be separated from my wife and children,” he said.
The court heard that the stolen 10 million yen has already been fully returned.
A verdict and sentencing will be handed down on June 22.
