Hyogo Governor Saito Not Indicted Over Information Leak

Mar 29, 2026 | News On Japan

HYOGO, Mar 29, 2026 (News On Japan) - The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office decided not to indict Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito and two others who had been criminally accused of violating the Local Public Service Act over the leak of private information belonging to a former prefectural bureau chief, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations.

The case centers on the leak of personal information involving a former prefectural citizens bureau chief, who has since died, with a third-party committee established by the prefecture determining that former General Affairs Department Director Inomoto was responsible for the leak and concluding that Saito and former Vice Governor Katayama were highly likely to have instructed the disclosure.

Based on these findings, a group including university professors filed a criminal complaint against the three individuals on suspicion of violating the Local Public Service Act, however prosecutors in Kobe ruled that there was insufficient evidence to indict Saito and Katayama, while Inomoto was not indicted under a suspension of prosecution.

Saito commented on the decision, saying: "I understand this as the result of thorough and careful investigations conducted by the authorities."

The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office explained that the decision not to indict Saito was due to a lack of sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations.

Source: YOMIURI

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