CHIBA (TR) – Police in Ichikawa City have arrested a former elementary school vice principal accused of embezzling millions of yen in school funds to cover his personal debts, reports Nippon News Network (June 5).
Yoshimi Kobayashi, the former vice principal of Ichikawa Municipal Shioyaki Elementary School, is suspected of siphoning approximately 3.5 million yen from a school bank account under his management over a period leading up to last year.
During police questioning, Kobayashi readily admitted to the allegations. “I used the money to pay off my debts,” he was quoted as telling investigators.
According to police, the stolen funds had been collected directly from parents to pay for student teaching materials.
The suspect was slapped with a disciplinary dismissal in May of last year after the missing funds were brought to light.
According to the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education, the true scope of Kobayashi’s actions appears much larger. An investigation revealed that the disgraced educator is believed to have pocketed a staggering total of approximately 13 million yen from the same school account.
