AnyTV News Bank employee's heart wavered in Japan, now officers are bearing the brunt, salary will be cut -

Image Source: AP
A bank employee in Japan stole from customers’ locker (symbolic photo)

Tokyo: An employee stole about 1.4 billion yen (9 million US dollars) from customers’ lockers at a major bank in Japan. The employee was arrested on charges of theft, after which top officials of the bank apologized over the incident on Thursday. The surprising thing amidst all this is that the bank officials have decided to cut their salaries. These incidents of theft in two branches of MUFG Bank were carried out for four years and the matter came to light in October last year.

Bank apologized

The bank’s executives who have decided to cut their salaries include its Chairman Naoki Horie, Chief Executive Officer Junichi Hanzawa and Managing Executive Officer Tadashi Yamamoto. The salary of each of those officers will be cut by 30 percent in three months. The salaries of two other officers will be cut by 20 percent in three months. “We apologize for the inconvenience caused to customers and stakeholders,” the bank said in a statement.

Police is investigating

According to the bank, the dismissed employee stole gold, cash and other valuables worth 1.4 billion yen (Japanese currency) from about 60 lockers. This bank, included in the three big banks of Japan, was established in 2006 by the merger of UFJ Bank and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. Tokyo police identified the employee as Yukari Iwamura, who also used the name Yamazaki. He was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of stealing 20 gold bars from the lockers of two customers on separate occasions. Police said that the matter is being investigated.