TOKYO (TR) – The former CEO of precision equipment manufacturer Olympus has been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of receiving illegal drugs.
According to investigators, Stefan Kaufmann, 56, was sent to prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Special Narcotics Act, reports TBS News (Nov. 12)
Kaufmann is suspected of receiving illegal drugs, believed to be cocaine and MDMA (or Ecstasy), on multiple occasions in Tokyo from 44-year-old Takaaki Kaneko, who was arrested last week.
During voluntary questioning, Kaufmann reportedly said, “I purchased illegal drugs from Kaneko.” He also exchanged messages with Kaneko about purchasing drugs on the platform Telegram, which led to the decision to file charges.
On June 18, investigators from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s Drug and Firearms Control Division conducted a search of the former CEO’s home in Minato Ward.
At the time, Kaufmann still maintained his CEO title. During the aforementioned voluntary session, he denied using illegal drugs. The results of a urine test gave a negative result for illegal substances, police said previously.
The matter did not surface within Olympus until September, when documents detailing the drug transactions arrived at the company’s headquarters.
The company’s later board came to an unanimous decision that the former CEO “likely engaged in behaviors that were inconsistent” with its code of conduct. On October 28, the company announced that the former CEO had resigned due to suspicions of purchasing illegal drugs.
