"I embezzled the money to pay off my personal debts," he confesses
A branch manager at a financial institution in Japan has embezzled approximately 1 billion yen (about 1 billion KRW). Inside the vault where the cash disappeared, a note saying "I'm sorry" was found.
According to the Mainichi Shimbun on September 19, the Wakayama Prefectural Police announced the arrest of Shinta Hiroshi (44), the branch manager of the Kushimoto branch of the Nagisa Credit Fisheries Cooperative Federation, on charges of occupational embezzlement.
Shinta is accused of embezzling 106 million yen (about 990 million KRW) in operating funds stored in the Kushimoto branch vault between September 12 and 16.
It has been reported that during police questioning, he stated, "I embezzled the money to pay off my personal debts."
As branch manager, Shinta was responsible for managing the vault keys and inspecting the cash in the vault daily. He worked as usual until September 12, but was absent without leave on the 16th, after a three-day holiday.
The federation discovered the missing cash in the vault on the morning of the 16th and reported it to the police. A note was left in the vault, apologizing for "betraying you in this way."
After issuing an arrest warrant and placing him on the wanted list, Shinta reportedly turned himself in to the police at around 1:30 a.m. that day.
The federation is headquartered in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture. Also known as JF Marine Bank Nagisa, it provides financial services to fisheries cooperative members and local residents in both Hyogo and Wakayama Prefectures.
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