Overview
- The Aomori prefectural employee, Takahashi Yudai, 33, was arrested by Hirosaki police on Thursday on suspicion of fraud after investigators say he told a 53-year-old welfare recipient on June 13 that benefits were overpaid and took ¥20,000.
- Police say the probe began after the prefectural government provided information at the end of June, the investigation is ongoing, and Takahashi denies the charges.
- Takahashi served as a caseworker handling welfare consultations at the Chunan Regional Prefectural Bureau from April 2023 to March 2025 and is now assigned to the Cancer and Lifestyle Disease Countermeasures Division.
- Governor Miyashita held an unscheduled briefing to apologize to residents, described the conduct as unacceptable, and the prefecture said it will tighten controls including requiring multiple staff when cash is collected and pursuing personnel action.
- Officials and local media note that although the amount taken is small, the case raises wider concerns about abuse of public trust, protections for vulnerable beneficiaries, and possible additional victims or administrative reforms.