Japan bus driver caught stealing US$7 on camera, loses US$84,000 pension
Friday, 18 Apr 2025
1:00 PM MYT

TOKYO: A Japanese bus driver with 29 years of service lost his retirement package worth US$84,000 after being fired for stealing US$7 from passengers' fares.

Kyoto City sacked the man, who was not named, after he was filmed by the security camera of his bus pilfering 1,000 yen (RM30 or US$7) in 2022.

After he was denied his retirement money of more than 12mil yen (RM371,058 or US$84,000), the driver sued the city but lost the case.

The verdict was overturned in his favour, with a court ruling that the punishment was excessive.

But on Thursday the Supreme Court delivered a final ruling in the city's favour, reinstating the original penalty.

It ruled that the man's conduct could undermine public trust in the system and the sound operation of the bus service.

In the original incident a group of five passengers entered the bus and paid him 1,150 yen (RM35), according to the ruling.

The driver instructed the group to drop 150 yen (RM4.60) worth of coins into a fare collection box, and accepted a 1,000-yen bill by hand and didn't report it properly.

Despite being caught on camera, he tried to deny it during a meeting with his superior.

The driver had been reprimanded several times during his career over various incidents, according to the ruling.

This included repeatedly smoking an electronic cigarette while on duty, albeit when there were no passengers on board.

Kyoto City hailed the decision.

"Each one of the bus drivers works alone and handles public money. We took it very seriously that embezzlement related to this area of our work took place," Shinichi Hirai, an official at Kyoto's public transport bureau, told AFP.

"If our strict measures were not accepted, then our organisation could become careless and it could result in eroding the public's trust," he said. – AFP

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2...us84000-pension

The fact that a US$7 dollar theft in Japan makes international news, is a testament to their culture.

Penny wise pound foolish

https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2025041700853&g=soc

Been driving for Kyoto City bus since 1993

https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20250417-OYT1T50138/
れに対し、同小法廷は「着服はバス事業の運営の適正を害するものだ」と指摘し、市の処分が違法とは言えないと結論付けた。
"embezzlement undermines the proper operation of the bus service"

The driver had been reprimanded several times during his career over various incidents, according to the ruling.

Repeated behaviour. The company gave chance too many times and he ruined it

Japan is crazy...if Malaysia...kena jailed like several lifetimes already...

7 dollars?? Crazy society.

Why our country cannot be like that

Meanwhile in Malaysia....

Lai Malaysia la.

Lowyat.jp...?

When we will emulate this practice here and lose pension? Look East policy

BUt in a sad way..... this setitik nila, his milk factory all gone.

If really wanted to teach him a lesson....at most just halved his pension rather than totally forfeit it.

This post has been edited by alanyuppie: Apr 18 2025, 02:35 PM

toxic and good ppl exists regardless nationality, race, age, gender

you'll be surprised that for some, the size of loot is so big that it is worth the risk of losing pension

News report said it wasn't his first offence.
So he only knows how many times in the past he's gotten away with it and still persisted.

Inb4 not true Japanese

But look, people who don't look like us doing things that are for better or for worse part of the ordinary course of life

/s

sini bilion, pun tak kesah.

This case sounds very sus again one sided story.

US$84k retirement package/pension foefeited over a alleged US$7 theft? REALLLY?

Someone must be scheming to cut their pension scheme and looking to cari pasal with their employees with the slightest mistake to forfeit their retirement money.

Don't think such things in life couldn't happen ya. Corporations and employers aren't saints also. They'll also cut corners and cheat in every possible way for the bosses to have their own retirement/exit plans as well.