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.”
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