JCP Dietmember reveals SDF officers' embezzlement of tax money

Koizumi Chikashi, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors, has revealed that Self-Defense Forces officers have embezzled tax money by falsifying attendance books and other documents.

"The scandal took place in the Western Ground Defense Force Fourth Division based in Fukuoka Prefecture," the JCP lawmaker said at the House of Councilors Audit Committee meeting on May 7.

Documents which Koizumi obtained showed that a large amount of money was paid to GSDF personnel for fictitious business trips. But the embezzled money actually was secretly stashed and used for dining and wining by the division.

Ishiba Shigeru, the Defense Agency director general, promised to investigate into the allegation.

Most of these false business trips by SDF personnel had dates from the two weeks up to March 31, apparently with the aim of using up allotted funds by the end of each fiscal year. (end)