HYOGO (TR) – Hyogo Prefectural Police have penalized two officers after an internal investigation revealed they repeatedly engaged in sexual intercourse inside a police station and a parked car while on duty, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 11).
The 29-year-old male senior police officer and a 21-year-old female officer, both assigned to a station in the Seiban area, engaged in sexual acts multiple times between November and July. The trysts took place during scheduled nap times on night shifts, utilizing the male officer’s personal vehicle parked nearby, as well as a conference room and an office inside the precinct.
The illicit affair came to light after the male officer, who is married, was caught by his wife. Following the discovery, he confessed the workplace relationship to a superior, prompting an internal investigation by the prefectural police inspector’s office.
In addition to their nighttime encounters, the pair reportedly exchanged an average of 80 messages a day via the Line messaging app during their daytime shifts. The male officer had previously received a warning from superiors regarding his excessive messaging.
On Friday, the prefectural police slapped both officers with a 10 percent pay reduction for three months.
During questioning, the pair admitted to the allegations. “We reflect on the immense trouble we have caused. We are truly sorry for what we did,” they reportedly told investigators.
Kenji Oue, head of the Hyogo Prefectural Police Inspector’s Office, condemned the officers’ actions. “This is unacceptable behavior for police personnel, and we have dealt with it strictly. We will thoroughly enforce ethical training for our staff to prevent a recurrence,” he said in a statement.
This scandal marks the 10th disciplinary action taken against a member of the Hyogo Prefectural Police this year.
