The sloppy management of police officer evidence has been revealed.
Last month, a police officer of the Saitama Prefectural Police was sent documents on suspicion of violating the Stimulants Control Law, alleging that he had stimulants as evidence at home.
The documents were sent to a 60-year-old former police inspector of the Saitama Prefectural Police who retired at the end of last month.
According to the police, on the 17th of last month, it was suspected that he had violated the Stimulant Drug Control Law, saying that he had about 0.15 grams of stimulant at home.
These are evidences that were voluntarily submitted during the investigation 18 years ago, and the former inspector did not handle the case and took it home.
My boss was suspicious that the paper bag of my personal belongings at work contained investigation documents, and when I examined my home and car, I found more than 2,300 investigation documents including this stimulant, some of which have been 20 years. It means that there was also the previous document.
The police sentenced him to six months' suspension on the 31st of last month, saying that he explained to the investigation that "the investigation and disposal of documents was troublesome."
Police say there was no leakage of personal information or any impact on the investigation.
"We apologize to the citizens of the prefecture. We will give thorough guidance and strive to prevent recurrence," said Nagatake Ogino, Chief Inspector General of the Saitama Prefectural Police Headquarters.