[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Amid the declaration of a state of emergency due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), controversy has arisen as it is reported that Hiromu Kurokawa, the former Tokyo High Public Prosecutor who was dishonorably dismissed for gambling in violation of the emergency declaration, is receiving a retirement allowance close to 700 million yen.
According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 26th, Masako Mori, Minister of Justice, stated at the House of Representatives Judicial Affairs Committee that, based on general principles, a Tokyo High Public Prosecutor like former Prosecutor Kurokawa who served for 37 years and retires for personal reasons would receive a retirement allowance of about 59 million yen (approximately 675.56 million KRW).
According to the National Public Officials Retirement Allowance Act, the retirement allowance for those retiring at the mandatory retirement age reaches about 67 million yen (approximately 767.16 million KRW), but in Prosecutor Kurokawa’s case, since he retired early due to personal circumstances, he is expected to receive a lesser amount.
There are also criticisms that the Abe Shinzo administration shielded him by allowing Prosecutor Kurokawa to receive his retirement allowance without reduction despite receiving a 'kungo' disciplinary action, which is a type of warning rather than formal punishment.
Prime Minister Abe explained at a press conference the previous day, "I understand that the amount was reduced according to the kungo disciplinary action." However, the Asahi Shimbun reported that the reduction was not due to the kungo disciplinary action but because former Prosecutor Kurokawa retired for his own reasons.
As public criticism intensifies over his gambling during the state of emergency, voices are growing demanding that former Prosecutor Kurokawa be punished for gambling offenses for playing mahjong with reporters.
The civic group "Association Opposing the Amendment of the Public Prosecutor's Office Act" reportedly filed a complaint with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Department against former Prosecutor Kurokawa and three others, including the reporters who played mahjong with him, on gambling charges.
Additionally, a man residing in Tokyo sent a complaint against former Prosecutor Kurokawa by mail to the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office (Supreme Prosecutors Office), and lawyers also filed a complaint with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office accusing former Prosecutor Kurokawa of habitual gambling.
The opposition parties raised suspicions that the Prime Minister was involved in the decision to limit the disciplinary action to a kungo warning for former Prosecutor Kurokawa. Accordingly, the opposition demanded a reinvestigation of the mahjong gambling incident involving former Prosecutor Kurokawa at the House of Councillors Welfare and Labor Committee on the same day.
Prime Minister Abe drew a line by stating, "The Ministry of Justice conducted an appropriate investigation."
The Abe Cabinet made an unprecedented decision in February this year to extend the mandatory retirement age of former Prosecutor Kurokawa, who was scheduled to retire, by six months, which has been interpreted as an attempt to appoint Kurokawa as the next Prosecutor General.
To smooth over the situation, Prime Minister Abe later pushed for an amendment to the Public Prosecutor's Office Act that would allow high-ranking prosecutors to extend their retirement age while retaining their positions if the government recognizes it, but this was postponed due to public opposition.
Meanwhile, according to a survey by the Asahi Shimbun, the approval rating of the Abe Cabinet recorded its lowest at 29% since Abe’s return to power in December 2012.
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