Former Social Affairs Reporter Fraudulent Billing Issue NHK Receives Full Reimbursement

On the 18th, NHK received full reimbursement for a case in which a former reporter for the social affairs department of NHK's news bureau fraudulently claimed 7.89 million yen in expenses, including calling private meals and drinks part of the report.

NHK also determined that the use of related taxis and other vehicles was fraudulent and required a refund of 2.84 million yen.NHK said, ``We will thoroughly implement preventive measures and work diligently to ensure that such a situation will never happen again.'' "

A former reporter in his 30s in the social affairs department of NHK's news bureau was accused of fraudulently claiming expenses, including calling private meals and drinks interviews, and NHK brought the case to a third-party committee made up of outside experts. During the investigation, we requested 7.89 million yen to be reimbursed for 410 cases that were determined to be fraudulent, and on the 18th, we received full reimbursement.

Additionally, as a result of investigating the use of related taxis and hired cars, we determined that 272 cases were fraudulent and amounted to 2.84 million yen, and we also required them to pay the charges.

NHK suspended this former reporter from his post in November last year.

On the other hand, an additional investigation was also conducted regarding two other reporters who were working in the social affairs department at the time, and fraudulent charges were confirmed in a complete investigation of reporting expenses involving food and beverages conducted on the advice of a third-party committee. Well, we paid off 8 cases of 310,000 yen and 1 case of 15,000 yen in full.

These two reporters were given warnings based on their own reporting of fraud.

NHK said it had completed a series of investigations and said, ``As an employee of NHK, which is operated using public funds in the form of license fees, fraudulent expense claims are absolutely unacceptable, and we have made the third party reimburse the full amount.'' We will thoroughly implement measures to prevent recurrence that we have formulated based on the investigation report received from the Association, and we will work diligently to ensure that such a situation never occurs again."