Latest news with #Inomoto
Asahi Shimbun
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Panel: Hyogo chief Saito likely ordered info leak on whistleblower
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.
The Mainichi
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Hyogo Gov., ex-deputy likely directed whistleblower's personal info be leaked: panel
KOBE -- Officials including Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito highly likely ordered a leak of personal information on a whistleblower who accused him of power harassment, a third-party committee concluded May 27. The Hyogo Prefectural Government's third-party panel the same day released the results of an investigation which found that Chiaki Inomoto, former head of the prefectural government's general affairs department, leaked information on the late former director of the Hyogo Prefectural Government's Nishiharima District Administration Office, who accused Saito of misconduct, to three prefectural assembly members. It concluded, "There is a high possibility that the leak was directed by the governor and former Deputy Gov. Yasutaka Katayama." Inomoto was punished with a three-month suspension as of May 27 for disclosing confidential information obtained through his official duties. That same day, Saito offered a renewed apology over the leak, and stated "I feel responsible as the head of the organization. I will now consider specific disciplinary measures against myself, including the possibility of a pay cut." Regarding the third-party committee's conclusion that he was likely involved in directing the leak, he stated, "My understanding remains unchanged that I did not instruct the leak." According to the committee's report, it was discovered in March 2024 that the former bureau chief's private information was saved on his work computer. Inomoto was appointed general affairs department chief that April and was handed the printed-out file of the bureau chief's personal information. From mid-April, Inomoto visited the prefectural assembly waiting rooms and other locations where he leaked the bureau chief's information by showing the three assembly members a printed document and telling them about it directly. Inomoto had initially denied any involvement in the leak, but later submitted a written statement saying that his action of leaking the information was directed by his boss. He explained that when he told Saito about the existence of such information, the latter said something to the effect of "Why don't you share with assembly members that you have that kind of document?" A then senior prefectural official who was present at Inomoto and Saito's meeting gave a similar account to the former general affairs department chief. In addition, Katayama testified that he told Inomoto to arrange things accordingly after his subordinate told him that the governor had given such instructions. Based on these statements, the third-party committee concluded that it was highly likely the governor and deputy instructed the leak. After the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported in July 2024 that Inomoto was circulating the former bureau chief's personal information to prefectural assembly members and others, the prefectural government established a third-party committee consisting of three lawyers in October 2024 to investigate the matter. Japanese original by Akira Inoh, Mami Yamada and Toru Kurita, Kobe Bureau)
