Japan’s Navy Chief sacked over accident scandal
JAPAN: Japan’s defence minister on Friday dismissed the navy chief
and punished nearly 90 officials after a string of scandals including a
naval accident that killed two fishermen.
Japan’s largest and most advanced destroyer, Atago, last month rammed
into a small tuna fishing boat near Tokyo Bay, killing a fisherman and
his adult son and triggering a public uproar.
“We deeply apologise to the people. We will promptly and continually
carry out effective measures to prevent a recurrence,” Defence Minister
Shigeru Ishiba told reporters as he announced the punishments. The
dismissal of Admiral Eiji Yoshikawa will take effect on Monday.
He will be replaced by Admiral Keiji Akahoshi, who currently heads
the naval force’s Sasebo district in southern Japan.
In its biggest house-cleaning in recent years, the ministry also
punished 88 officials over the crash and two other scandals, including
leakage of information on the functioning of the US-developed Aegis
radar combat system.
Two people were sacked, and the others faced either suspensions or
had their salaries docked.
Tokyo, Friday, AFP |