The cameras mounted above the windshield of city buses in Kyoto don’t usually play a central role in the lives of their drivers. For one 58-year-old employee of the Kyoto City Transportation Bureau, however, a routine surveillance recording would alter the course of nearly three decades of public service.
In February 2022, during an otherwise uneventful shift, the driver was filmed diverting a passenger’s 1,000 yen bill — about $7 — from the fare collection system to his own pocket. That decision would lead to the city terminating his employment and rescinding his full pension benefits, a total sum of around 12 million yen, or approximately €73,000.
A career ended by a single moment
According to JapanToday, the incident took place when five passengers boarded the bus and collectively paid 1,150 yen. Most of the fare was properly deposited into the machine, but one 1,000 yen note handed directly to the driver was never entered into the system. The act, captured by the onboard camera, prompted swift disciplinary action.
The driver, whose name has not been disclosed by authorities, initially denied any wrongdoing when questioned by supervisors. The footage, however, left little room for ambiguity. Kyoto City dismissed him soon after, citing a breach of public trust and professional conduct.
He had previously received warnings for relatively minor infractions, including smoking an electronic cigarette while on duty. This time, the authorities deemed his behavior incompatible with the standards expected of municipal employees who routinely handle public funds.
Bus interior in Japan. Credit: Pakutaso
Legal appeal overturned by Japan’s highest court
Contesting the severity of the punishment, the driver filed a lawsuit, arguing that the city’s response was excessively punitive given his long tenure. A lower court initially agreed, finding the measure disproportionate and ruling in his favor.
But the case ultimately reached the Supreme Court of Japan, which reversed the earlier ruling. The court upheld Kyoto City’s decision, emphasizing that actions such as these “undermine public trust in the system and the sound operation of the bus service.”
The ruling affirmed the municipality’s right to take decisive measures in protecting the integrity of public service. “Each bus driver works alone and handles public money,” said Shinichi Hirai, a representative of the city’s transport bureau. “We took this very seriously.”
A city bus drives along a street in Kyoto, Japan, on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Buddhika Weerasinghe/Bloomberg
Surveillance as a tool for transparency
The case has drawn attention to the growing role of technology in enforcing discipline and accountability among public employees. Without the dashcam footage, the theft might have gone undetected. Its presence, however, provided conclusive evidence that led to both dismissal and legal proceedings.
For municipal officials, the technology serves not only to ensure operational safety but also to guard against misconduct in positions that involve financial responsibility. In this case, it played a critical role in shaping the outcome.
A strict stance on trust in public roles
Kyoto’s handling of the situation reflects a broader effort to reinforce ethical standards across its civil service. Officials maintained that trust in public sector workers, particularly those tasked with handling money from the public, must be uncompromising.
The driver’s dismissal, combined with the loss of his pension, serves as a stark example of the consequences that can follow even a small breach of that trust. For those working in similarly autonomous and accountable roles, it is a message with clear implications.
AloJapan.com