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The
bank, formally known as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.,
said Monday that it was investigating and that verified thefts
from about 20 of the 60 clients thought to have been affected
amounted to 300 million yen (nearly $2 million). Compensation
was being worked out, it said.
The thefts occurred at two Tokyo branches of the bank, from
April 2020 until the end of October this year, when the problem
was discovered.
MUFG’s president and CEO Junichi Hanzawa told reporters the
female employee responsible for managing the safe deposit boxes
and their keys is suspected of taking advantage of that position
to steal cash and other valuables.
“The case has undermined the customers' trust and confidence and
shaken the very foundation of our banking business,” Hanzawa
said. He apologized for causing concern and trouble to MUFG
clients.
MUFG said the employee admitted taking the money and using it
for investments and her personal purposes. She was fired and was
cooperating with the bank's internal probe and a police
investigation but has not yet been arrested.
After news of the thefts surfaced, dozens more people came
forward with claims of suspected losses that the bank is working
to verify, it said.
The MUFG case is the second recent one involving criminal
activity at a major Japanese financial institution. In November,
Nomura Holdings acknowledged that a former employee had been
arrested on suspicion of robbery, attempted murder and arson
targeting a client in Hiroshima.
Asked about the MUFG thefts, the chief government spokesman said
Monday that banking operations require high levels of trust and
a sense of public service.
The case was “extremely regrettable,” said Chief Cabinet
Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
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