Panel: Hyogo chief Saito likely ordered info leak on whistleblower

Asahi Shimbun

28-05-2025

Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito fields questions from reporters in Kobe's Chuo Ward on May 27. (Emiko Arimoto)
KOBE—Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito likely ordered the leak of private information about a now-deceased whistleblower who alleged corruption and harassment at the top level of the prefectural government, an investigation committee said.
However, Saito again strongly denied involvement in the information leak.
'I remain of the opinion that I never gave instructions for the leak,' Saito told reporters on May 27, soon after the prefectural third-party investigation committee's report was released.
His denial is at odds with a statement given by the actual leaker, Chiaki Inomoto, 57, a former general affairs director in the prefectural government and a close associate of Saito.
Inomoto provided private information taken from the work computer of the whistleblower, who had headed the prefectural government's branch office in charge of the Nishi-Harima region, to three prefectural assembly members, the committee's report said.
The prefectural government on May 27 suspended Inomoto for three months for violating confidentiality obligations under the Local Public Service Law. But the prefecture will not seek criminal charges against Inomoto, saying he has been 'socially sanctioned' by this disciplinary measure.
Nonetheless, Inomoto said through his lawyer that he will file a request for a review of the disciplinary action.
During the investigation, Inomoto told the third-party committee that the leak was 'legitimate work based on the instructions of the governor and others.'
The three prefectural assembly members told the committee they received personal information about the whistleblower from Inomoto in April 2024.
They said they believed the purpose of Inomoto's action was to raise doubts about the character of the whistleblower and the credibility of his document of allegations against Saito that was sent to media organizations.
Inomoto initially denied leaking the information.
But he later admitted to verbally informing the assembly members after receiving instructions from the governor to 'share information about the existence of such a document with prefectural assembly members.'
When interviewed by the third-party committee, Saito denied giving such orders.
However, Yasutaka Katayama, former deputy governor of the prefecture, said to the committee, 'I was told that the governor had given the order, so I gave instructions not to oppose the order but to put in place the necessary arrangements.'
ACTIONS WERE 'APPROPRIATE'
Saito obtained the whistleblower's document from an acquaintance on March 20, 2024. The next day, he instructed Katayama and others to identify the author of the document, according to the committee.
On March 25 that year, Katayama interviewed the whistleblower and recovered his official computer. The private information was found during this process.
The whistleblower was found dead at his home in July in an apparent suicide.
After the prefectural assembly's so-called Article 100 Committee looked into the allegations against the governor, Saito vacated the post.
However, he regained the position in the gubernatorial election in November.
In March this year, the third-party investigative committee said Saito's search for the identity of his accuser violated the whistleblower protection law.
Saito has also rejected this accusation, saying his actions were 'appropriate.'
When asked on May 27 why others have said he gave the orders for the leak, Saito said: 'I recognize that I did not do it at all. I think each of them testified in their own way.'
But he said he would take the committee's latest report 'seriously.'
'As the head of the organization, I have a great deal of responsibility,' he said.
He said he is considering taking disciplinary action against himself, including a pay cut.
However, he said he would not resign.
'My way of taking responsibility is to move the prefectural government forward,' he said. 'I apologize once again for any inconvenience I may have caused.'
ANOTHER INVESTIGATION?
Former Tottori Governor Yoshihiro Katayama said Inomoto's actions most likely violated the local public service law.
'If (the governor) gave the instructions, he could be charged with complicity or abetment, too,' Katayama said.
'Since (Saito) has denied ordering the leak, the prefectural assembly could reopen the Article 100 Committee and investigate the governor and (Inomoto) once again. This would show the people of the prefecture which side is right,' he said.