KOBE--A junior high school principal lost his job and retirement pay, believed to be around 20 million yen ($135,000), as punishment for overfilling his coffee at a convenience store in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture.
But critics have questioned the prefectural board of education’s decision to apply the most severe penalty available, saying it is akin to giving a “death sentence” for an offense of little monetary loss.
According to the board, the principal paid 110 yen at the counter of a convenience store to buy a regular-size coffee at a self-service coffee machine on Dec. 21.
However, a store clerk noticed that he filled his cup by pressing the button for a large coffee, which costs 180 yen.
When confronted, the 59-year-old principal of the city-supported school admitted to cheating on his coffee purchase. He also admitted that he had done this twice before at the same store.
Police sent files on the suspected theft to the Himeji branch of the Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office.
Prosecutors acknowledged that he committed the theft, but decided not to indict him.
At an interview by board officials, the school head reportedly said he did it “on the impulse of the moment” and he was “truly sorry” for his misconduct.
The principal also admitted to doing the same thing four times at another store--bringing the total amount he had scammed to 490 yen.
There are four levels of punishment used to discipline public servants.
Dismissal is the most severe measure, followed by suspension from work, receiving a pay cut and being reprimanded, in that order.
The guidelines for disciplinary actions set by the Hyogo prefectural government dictates that a public servant who has committed theft should be either suspended from work or dismissed.
The board announced the principal’s dismissal on Jan. 30, revoking his teaching license and forfeiting his retirement pay, for overfilling the three cups of coffee at the store where he was caught.
Explaining the decision, the board said it ascertained that he was responsible for the theft, citing the prosecutors’ judgment.
When asked whether dismissal or suspension from work was the more appropriate response, a board official told The Asahi Shimbun that they decided on a “strict application” of the rules in the principal’s case.
“We reviewed past disciplinary actions and concluded that dismissal is appropriate for a repeated offense,” the official said.
There was an incident in another prefecture in which a municipal employee was dismissed for pouring a 200-yen cafe latte at a self-serve coffee machine at a convenience store despite paying for a 100-yen coffee.
However, Takashi Sakata, a professor of public education at Japan Women’s University in Tokyo, believes that the punishment for the principal is “disproportionately severe.”
Sakata said there is no question the principal deserves a heavier penalty than usual since he, as teacher, is supposed to show his students the importance of having normative morality. Moreover, as manager of a school, he should behave as a role model for the other teachers.
Still, the losses he caused to the store are small, Sakata added.
“The loss of a teaching license and retirement pay have significantly larger impact than the losses the principal was responsible for,” he said.
Sakata said the board should have handled the matter cautiously, considering the overall balance and consequences.
“The board’s decision gives the impression that they just followed the formality of precedents,” he said.
PHOTO
A regular-size coffee, left, and a large-size coffee. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Principal loses job, retirement pay for coffee theft at store | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and ... - 朝日新聞デジタル
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