Nara police investigate one of their own over suspected information leak in bribery case

NARA -- An assistant inspector with the Nara Prefectural Police is being questioned on suspicion of leaking information related to a bribery investigation, it has been learned.

The assistant inspector, 53, is being interviewed by his fellow police for allegedly leaking information about an investigation into Shigetaka Kurumatani, former mayor of Tenkawa, Nara Prefecture, who has been indicted on charges of taking bribes while serving as mayor. Such a leak would be a violation of the confidentiality provisions of the Local Public Service Law.

Kurumatani, 51, was arrested on Dec. 6 of last year on suspicion of taking more than 8 million yen in cash kickbacks in 2005 from a representative of a Tokyo construction firm, in exchange for pushing lucrative village water main construction work the firm's way, police said.

On Feb. 18, the former mayor was further indicted for taking a 2 million yen kickback from another construction firm in exchange for telling the company the lowest offer during the competitive bidding process for a water main improvement project. With that final indictment, the Nara District Public Prosecutors Office said that they had brought a string of investigations into Kurumatani to a close.

After Kurumatani's arrest, a Tenkawa village counselor was also apprehended for violating the confidential bidding process, and was summarily ordered to pay a 1 million yen fine.

Tenkawa held mayoral elections to replace Kurumatani on Sunday, which non-party newcomer Yasumaro Kakisaka, 64, won.

Mainichi
February 24, 2009

On-duty officer apparently shoots himself at Tokyo police station

Monday 22nd September, 03:29 PM JST

TOKYO —

A police officer apparently shot himself at a police station in Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward while he was on duty early Monday morning, police said. At around 5:45 a.m. Monday, an officer at the Shimura police station heard the sound of a gunshot from a bathroom and found Daisuke Orihara, 26, collapsed and bleeding from the head inside one of the stalls. Orihara died later at a hospital.

Police said they are treating the case as suicide, although no suicide note has been found, and are investigating the background and cause of the incident. Orihara was on duty for 24 hours until 9 a.m. Monday and had been with his colleagues until shortly before he shot himself with his own gun, the police said. Orihara apparently lost several traffic violation tickets on Sunday and was looking for them, but they have not been found, police said.

Japan Today

Police order gang bosses not to reward yakuza hit men who attack rivals

Police have ordered 28 gang bosses across the country not to reward their members who have shot or attacked rival yakuza in gang wars, National Police Agency (NPA) officials said.

Fifteen police departments, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Osaka and Fukuoka prefectural police, issued the orders under the revised anti-gang law that took effect in August.

Crime syndicates often promote or give cash rewards to members when they are released from prison after serving time for attacking rival yakuza in gang wars, according to NPA officials.

The orders are aimed at banning such practices and helping prevent gang wars.

The orders issued this time were provisional ones. After questioning the gang bosses, the police departments will issue full-scale orders, the NPA officials said.

September 17, 2008

Mainichi

Niigata cop aided illegal worker

NIIGATA (Kyodo) A policeman tried to help a female Chinese student who was working illegally at an adult entertainment shop in the city of Niigata last year avoid a crackdown, Niigata Prefectural Police sources said Wednesday.

The officer, who is in his 30s, resigned voluntarily in March, even though an internal investigation concluded his actions did not violate any laws and he was only punished.

According to the sources, the student, who is in her 20s, was on a study visa and working without authorization in violation of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law.

The woman became aware last December that police were secretly investigating the shop and asked the officer, an acquaintance, to help her. In response, the officer advised her to get rid of the shop's list of employees, the sources said.

When police questioned the officer on a voluntary basis on suspicion of helping the woman violate immigration law, he confessed, saying he felt sympathy for her.

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008

Japan Times

Fukui cop held for allegedly harassing woman with e-mails

Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008

KANAZAWA, Ishikawa Pref. (Kyodo) A policeman who allegedly sent harassing e-mails to a woman who broke up with him was arrested Friday on suspicion of violating the antistalking law, police said.

Fukui Prefectural Police Sgt. Kazuyuki Yamashita, 31, a resident of the city of Fukui, has owned up to the harassment, police said.

An investigation determined that Yamashita sent 27 e-mails to the woman's mobile phone between July 23 and Aug. 17 asking her to talk to him.

Police said Yamashita became acquainted with the woman, a 25-year-old resident of Kanazawa, in 2005 but she dumped him in January. She contacted Ishikawa Prefectural Police on Monday.

The 2000 antistalking law sets penalties of imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to ¥500,000.

Japan Times

Cops punished for handing cigarettes, cell phone to detainee, violently treating youths

YOKOHAMA -- A police sergeant and three other officers who provided cigarettes and a cell phone to a detainee have been punished, while another officer accused of injuring a detained youth was reported to prosecutors, law enforcers said.

The Kanagawa Prefectural Police Inspection Office announced punishments, including at least one 10 percent pay cut for six months, for the four officers on Tuesday. Among the four were a 56-year-old officer from Kagacho Police Station, and a 47-year-old senior officer.

Investigators said that the four supplied snacks to a 43-year-old truck driver who was being held on suspicion of intimidation, after he made a row during a police night shift in January. Later the man made threats, saying, "I'll tell your bosses (that you've violated regulations). I'll go wild." In response, the officers handed him cigarettes and gave him access to a cell phone on about 90 occasions. Their actions were uncovered in March.

In addition, police announced that a 39-year-old officer accused of violently treating three youths who made a row at a facility for juveniles at Kawasaki Police Station had been reprimanded. He was reported to public prosecutors on suspicion of injuring one of the youths.

"We want to work to prevent recurrences of such incidents," an Inspection Office official said.

神奈川県警：留置中に携帯提供などで５人懲戒処分

　神奈川県警監察官室は２２日、恐喝容疑などで逮捕・拘置されたトラック運転手の男（４３）に、たばこや携帯電話などを渡したとして、加賀町署の男性巡査部長（５６）と男性巡査長（４７）ら４人を減給１０分の１（６カ月）などの懲戒処分にしたと発表した。

　調べでは、警務課管理係の４人は１月中旬、夜間当直中に男が留置場で騒いだため、菓子などを提供。その後、男から「上司に（規則違反を）言うよ。暴れちゃうよ」と脅され、計約９０回にわたってたばこやライター、はさみ、携帯電話などを渡した。３月中旬の異動を機に発覚した。

　また川崎署の留置施設少年室で、騒いだ少年３人に暴行したとして、同署管理係の男性巡査部長（３９）を戒告の懲戒処分にし、１人にけがをさせた特別公務員暴行陵虐致傷容疑で横浜地検に書類送検した。西村昇・県警監察官室長は「誠に遺憾であり、再発防止に努めたい」とコメントした。【鈴木一生】

Mainichi Newspaper

July 23rd, 2008

Police ID, uniform stolen from car of officer playing pachinko

NICHINAN, Miyazaki -- Two bags containing a police officer's identification and a uniform were stolen from his car while he was playing pachinko here, law enforcers said.

Fearing that the ID and other items could be used for criminal purposes, every officer at Nichinan Police Station was dispatched to look for the bags.

Investigators said the 30-year-old officer had been on night duty and finished his shift Sunday morning. Shortly after noon, he went to a pachinko parlor in Nichinan in his own car. When he returned to his car about four hours later, he found that the window on the passenger's side of the vehicle had been smashed, and two bags containing his identification, name cards and a uniform had been stolen from the vehicle.

"The officer lacked care in not carrying his police identification with him," a police station official said. "We will put every effort into the investigation, and will work to prevent such an incident in the future."

警察手帳：宮崎県警の巡査長、パチンコ中に車から盗まれる

　２０日午後４時すぎ、宮崎県警日南署交通課の巡査長（３０）から同署に「警察手帳などの入ったバッグを盗まれた」と連絡があった。同署は手帳などが悪用される恐れもあるため、全署員を出勤させバッグを探している。

　調べでは、巡査長はこの日宿直明けで午前中まで勤務。正午過ぎから自家用車で日南市平野のパチンコ店に行き、約４時間後に駐車場に止めていた車に戻ったところ、助手席の窓ガラスが割られて車内にあったバッグ２個が盗まれていた。バッグには手帳のほか、名刺や交通捜査用の制服などが入っていた。

　同署の吉田繁人副署長は「警察手帳を携行しなかったのは、注意不足だった。全力を挙げて捜査し、再発防止に努めたい」と話している。【塩満温】

Mainichi Newspaper

July 21st, 2008