Court Orders Yamaguchi Governor To Pay Back Spending On Luxury Official Car
A district court has ordered the Yamaguchi prefectural government to urge the governor to pay back 20.9 million yen, or about 142,000 dollars, that it spent to buy a luxury car for official use.
A resident, who is a former prefectural government employee, filed a lawsuit over the prefecture's purchase of a Toyota Century as its official car in 2020.
The plaintiff said the car purchase is a deviation from the governor's authority and an illegal use of public funds.
The prefectural government said it was a reasonable decision as the car is used to carry VIPs.
On Wednesday, Presiding Judge Yamaguchi Noriyuki of the Yamaguchi District Court noted there are not many prefectures that own a Century as their guest car. He said the necessity of buying a new car and the model to be purchased should be taken into account from the viewpoint of cutting spending. He said he has no choice but to say such a consideration was significantly insufficient.
The judge said the car purchase is an important matter related to the management of the prefectural government. He concluded that the governor was negligent in failing to block a purchase contract in violation of his duty as a supervisor.
After the court ruling, the plaintiff, Matsubayashi Shunji, told reporters that he wants Governor Muraoka Tsugumasa to keep the ruling in mind and spend taxpayers' money in a way that will enrich people's lives.
His lawyer, Uchiyama Shingo, welcomed the ruling, calling it epoch-making. He said it serves as a judicial warning to governments over how to use taxpayers' money.
The Yamaguchi prefectural government is discussing its response. Governor Muraoka is scheduled to speak to reporters soon.