TOKYO, April 18 — A veteran Japanese bus driver, who had spent 29 years serving his community, has seen his retirement savings — worth about $84,000 (RM370,208) — vanish after being caught stealing just $7 (¥1,000) from passenger fares.
The driver, whose name has not been revealed, was fired by Kyoto City after a security camera revealed the theft in 2022. The incident occurred when a group of five passengers boarded the bus and handed the driver ¥1,150. He instructed them to drop ¥150 in coins into the fare box, but pocketed the ¥1,000 bill without properly recording it.
Despite being caught on camera, the driver initially denied the theft during a meeting with his supervisor. This was not his first incident of misconduct. Over the years, he had been reprimanded several times, including for smoking an electronic cigarette while on duty when no passengers were around.
In response to his dismissal, the driver sued the city, hoping to regain his retirement package. Initially, the court sided with him, ruling that the punishment was too harsh. However, the Supreme Court’s final decision reinstated the original penalty, emphasizing that the driver’s actions could damage public trust in the bus service and undermine its operation.
Kyoto City officials defended the decision, stating the importance of trust in public services. Shinichi Hirai, an official with the city’s public transport bureau, explained, “Each bus driver works alone and handles public money. If we allow this kind of embezzlement to go unchecked, it could erode the trust the public has in us.”
This case highlights the delicate balance between personal mistakes and public responsibility in roles that directly serve the community.
