Iwaki city employee suspended for drink-driving to work three times; police not told
In short
A man in his 40s working for the city of Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture was suspended for 12 months after driving to work under the influence of alcohol three times last year. The city did not report the case to police, saying it had no obligation to, and published the penalty only on its website.
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A man in his 40s employed by the city of Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture received a 12-month suspension as a disciplinary penalty after driving to work under the influence of alcohol on three occasions last year, it emerged on October 9. Tokyo Shimbun, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and TBS NEWS DIG reported the case. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the city, as cited by Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun, a supervisor tested the employee in May last year after he drove to work in his own car and smelled of alcohol, and alcohol above the standard value was detected. Testing then began at the workplace, and by late July last year two further instances of the employee driving to work under the influence had been found. The city issued the disciplinary action in November last year. [ 3 , 4 ]
TBS NEWS DIG, also citing the city, reported that the man works at one of the city's branch offices and drove his own car to work under the influence three times between late May and late July last year. It said the cases came to light when alcohol tests at the workplace detected levels above the standard value. [ 1 ]
The city did not report the case to police. Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported that the city explained there is no obligation to report drink-driving to police, and that it also decided against an announcement to news organisations because the case did not meet its publication criteria. The disciplinary action was published only on the city's website, which TBS NEWS DIG said happened in November last year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
According to TBS NEWS DIG, the city said that it would consider how it makes announcements going forward, while taking into account the approach of other municipalities. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The city handled the case without informing police or news organisations, citing no reporting obligation and its own publication criteria. According to TBS NEWS DIG, the city said it would consider how it makes such announcements in future, taking into account the approach of other municipalities.
Key facts
- A male Iwaki city employee in his 40s received a 12-month suspension as a disciplinary penalty. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- He drove to work under the influence of alcohol on three occasions last year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The first case was found in May last year when a supervisor tested him because he smelled of alcohol; two more were found by late July after workplace testing began. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The city issued the disciplinary action in November last year. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The city did not report the case to police, saying there is no obligation to report drink-driving to police. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The penalty was published only on the city's website, and no announcement was made to news organisations because the case did not meet the city's publication criteria. [ 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A male Iwaki city employee in his 40s was suspended for 12 months for driving to work under the influence of alcohol three times last year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The cases were detected through alcohol testing at the workplace. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The city did not report the case to police. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The city published the disciplinary action only on its website. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The city took the disciplinary action in November last year. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The man works at one of the city's branch offices. Reported only by TBS NEWS DIG.
- The city said it would consider how it makes announcements in future, taking into account other municipalities. Reported only by TBS NEWS DIG.
- Whether police have been informed of the case since it came to light. None of the documents say.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TBS NEWS DIG reports on October 9 that the Iwaki city employee was suspended for 12 months and that the city did not inform police. [ 1 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun reports the case, citing the city's explanation that there is no obligation to report drink-driving to police. [ 3 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reports the case. [ 4 ]