TOKYO (TR) – Odakyu Electric Railway has fired a male employee in his 20s after he allegedly embezzled approximately 15 million yen by processing fraudulent ticket refunds at Shinjuku Station, reports TV Asahi (Sep. 10).
Between January and August 15 of 2023, the station attendant secretly collected used Hakone Free Pass tickets from passengers. According to the railway operator, he then exploited a company policy that allows for ticket refunds during severe weather, processing fake payouts for roughly 2,300 tickets to line his own pockets.
During an internal investigation, the employee admitted to the scheme. He told the company that the illicit cash was used to repay debts to consumer finance loan sharks and to provide financial support to his relatives.
Odakyu Electric Railway handed the man a disciplinary dismissal on Thursday. The company has consulted with the Metropolitan Police Department and is currently preparing to file criminal charges over the theft.
