Police arrested Awa Mayor Hisato Machida, 69, on suspicion of fraud after he allegedly padded a city cable TV contract with ¥3.5 million to cover repairs to a wall his own car had damaged, according to reports.
Machida was approached by investigators as he left his home by car on the morning of the 10th and asked to come in voluntarily. He got into an investigative vehicle shortly afterward.
Officers searched Awa City Hall that night, entering the mayor's office while Machida was absent.
The alleged scheme
Three years ago, Machida damaged a residential block wall when he crashed his private car into it. The repair bill came to ¥3.5 million, a sum he should have paid himself.
Police suspect Machida and others entered an inflated amount for the repairs into the budget for construction work on a cable television business. The city had signed a designated management contract — an arrangement in which a local government entrusts a public facility or service to a private operator — with a company for the business.
The ¥3.5 million was then transferred to the company, and police suspect the money was obtained fraudulently. Investigators believe Machida devised the plan.
Police have not disclosed whether Machida admits or denies the allegations. Three people are suspected of conspiring in the fraud.
From town hall to mayor's office
Awa, home to 33,000 people, is one of Tokushima Prefecture's leading farming areas. A shrinking population has left the city on the brink of chronic deficit.
Machida joined the former Awa town hall straight out of high school. He went on to head the finance division and the planning and general affairs department, and rose to deputy mayor.
Three years ago he won his first term as mayor in an uncontested election. The crash happened five months later.
By the time he spoke at a town-promotion event, police believe the inflated construction contract was already in place.
“It is day 565 since I became mayor. I have worked as hard as I can. My motto is building a town where citizens play the leading role.”Hisato Machida, speaking at a town-promotion event
An acquaintance of the mayor said he was stunned by the arrest. The mayor's father had been a police officer, the person said, and Machida had spoken of it himself. "He didn't seem to be short of money."
Police began investigating this fiscal year after receiving information about irregularities.
“I feel terribly sorry. I want to apologize deeply for the worry we have caused.”Manabu Yasumaru, Awa deputy mayor, to reporters
Machida's personal motto, which he has cited, is a classical Chinese phrase meaning that a state cannot stand without the trust of its people. That trust is now badly shaken.