A former managing director who was found not guilty after being accused of leaking a business secret regarding the technology of the magnetic sensor of the steel maker "Aichi Steel" was arrested in a criminal complaint on the company side based on a lie. He claimed that the commercialization of the independently developed sensor was hindered, and filed a lawsuit seeking compensation of more than 12 billion yen for the company and the president.
Yoshinobu Motozo (72), a former managing director of Aichi Steel Co., Ltd. in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture, and a former employee of a man, shared a business secret regarding equipment necessary for manufacturing magnetic sensors when he was enrolled nine years ago. He was accused of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Law for leaking to the electronic parts manufacturer, but the Nagoya District Court acquitted him in March and then confirmed it.
Mr. Honzo was arrested for a criminal complaint based on a lie filed by Aichi Steel, and said that the commercialization of the independently developed sensor that was being promoted by the company he manages was hindered, such as Aichi Steel and the president. On the 16th, the Nagoya District Court filed a lawsuit seeking compensation of more than 12 billion yen.
According to the complaints, criminal complaints and subsequent trials have disrupted the commercialization of sensors aimed at autonomous driving technology and medical equipment, and at least 13 billion should have been obtained from these businesses. In addition to the loss of profits exceeding the yen, Mr. Honzo himself claims to have suffered a great deal of mental distress for five years before being acquitted.
At a press conference, Mr. Motozo said, "I would like the company to reflect on and apologize for the enormous damage."
On the other hand, Aichi Steel told NHK that "the complaint has not arrived, so we will consider the response after confirming the contents."