Bus driver loses $84,000 pension after he was caught stealing $7
A Japanese bus driver of 29 years was denied his retirement money worth 12 million yen ($84,000 or nearly PhP5 million) after he was caught stealing 1,000 yen ($7 or around PhP400) from passengers’ fares.
CBS News reported that the unnamed man was filmed via the bus’ dashboard camera pocketing the 1,000 yen worth of passengers’ fare in 2022.
Despite the video evidence, the driver denied the act during his meeting with his superior.
Due to the incident, the court in Kyoto City ruled that he would be denied his retirement money of more than 12 million yen.
The driver sued the city for the ruling; the verdict was initially overturned in his favor, noting that the punishment was excessive, but Supreme Court’s final ruling on Thursday retained the original penalty, saying that his conduct could undermine the “public’s trust in the system and the sound operation of the bus service.”
"Each one of the bus drivers works alone and handles public money. We took it very seriously that embezzlement related to this area of our work took place," Shinichi Hirai, an official at Kyoto's public transport bureau, told AFP, per CBS News.
"If our strict measures were not accepted, then our organization could become careless, and it could result in eroding the public's trust," he added.
Per the ruling, said driver had been reported for various violations, including smoking an electronic cigarette while on duty, although there were no passengers on board.
