OSAKA (TR) — The Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau has slapped a one-month disciplinary suspension on a male worker who repeatedly gambled throughout work hours and hypocritically didn’t declare his personal winnings, stories All Nippon News Network (Apr. 3).
The official, a person in his 30s working at a tax workplace in Hyogo Prefecture, was disciplined on Friday for violating the National Public Service Act.
According to the bureau, the person overtly bought horse (keiba) and boat racing (kyotei) tickets a staggering 2,251 instances whereas on the clock between July 2022 and April of final 12 months.
Compounding the offense, the tax official didn’t declare the revenue he raked in from the betting payouts on his tax returns.
The investigation uncovered additional monetary deceit. On two separate events — in March 2024 and February 2025 — the official submitted fraudulent mortgage purposes to the Ministry of Finance Mutual Aid Association, illegally borrowing 700,000 yen every time.
“This is unacceptable behavior for a public servant involved in tax administration. We deeply apologize for damaging the trust of the public,” acknowledged the pinnacle of the bureau’s public relations workplace.