TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have dismissed an inspector who specializes in fire investigations after he was accused of stealing cash following several fires in the capital, reports NHK (July 25).
In the latest case, Ryoji Masano, 51, was indicted for stealing approximately 2.9 million yen in cash from a fire scene at an apartment in Minato Ward in January last year. In that blaze, a woman in her 70s died.
Masano was indicted over the theft in June. Police dismissed him on Friday.
The arrest was not his first. In May, police arrested Masano for stealing 1,000 yen and 3 million yen in cash from the scenes of fires that occurred in Koto Ward in January this year and Shibuya Ward in October 2022. In both cases, the blazes killed elderly people living alone.
Ryoji Masano (X)“Skills instructor”
According to police, it has been confirmed that Masano carried out the same crime eight times between October 2022 and February of this year, stealing a total of approximately 9 million yen. However, since all of the persons who died in the blazes lived alone, it was difficult to verify the facts. As a result, he was not prosecuted in five cases.
In addition to dismissing Masano, police verbally warned three of his superiors.
The defendant had been a long-time member of the Fire Squad of the First Investigation Division. As a “skills instructor,” he was in a position to provide guidance on investigating the cause of fires.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police said, “We have taken strict disciplinary action against this outrageous act by an employee who should be a role model for others. We deeply apologize to the victim and will thoroughly provide guidance and education to prevent recurrence.”
AloJapan.com