火災かさい現場げんばで現金げんきん盗ぬすむ行為こうい 逮捕たいほ・起訴きその警部けいぶを懲戒ちょうかい免職めんしょく 警視庁けいしちょう

The Metropolitan Police Department announced on the 25th that a 51-year-old inspector from the First Investigation Division, who had repeatedly stolen cash at fire investigation scenes and had been arrested and prosecuted, has been dismissed from his position as a disciplinary measure.

The person who received disciplinary action was Ryoji Masano 51, a police inspector in charge of fire investigations in the First Investigation Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Defendant Masano was arrested this May for allegedly stealing 1,000 yen and 3 million yen in cash, respectively, at the scenes of fires where elderly people living alone died—in Koto Ward this January and in Shibuya Ward in October 2022.

After that, he was re-arrested on suspicion of stealing 2.9 million yen in cash from the scene of a house fire in Minato Ward last January, in which a woman in her 70s died, and he has already been indicted on all charges.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, it has been confirmed that similar acts were repeated eight times between October 2022 and February this year, with a total of approximately 9 million yen stolen. However, since the victims in all cases were living alone and had passed away, it was difficult to substantiate the facts, so prosecution for the remaining five cases was not pursued.

The Metropolitan Police Department dismissed defendant Masano from their position on disciplinary grounds as of the 25th.

It is also said that verbal warnings were given to the three supervisors at the time.

The defendant had been with the Arson Unit of the First Investigation Division for a long time and, as a technical instructor, was in a position to provide guidance on matters such as cause investigations.

The Metropolitan Police Department stated, We have taken strict disciplinary action for this outrageous act by an employee who should serve as a role model for others.

We deeply apologize to the victim and will thoroughly reinforce guidance and education to prevent any recurrence.