Tottori Gas has sued its former president for ¥30 million in damages, saying he moved company money to a firm he set up with his wife without the board's approval, Kyodo News reported.
The utility, based in Tottori city, had already dismissed Taichi Kojima in September over more than ¥1 billion in unauthorized transfers, including payments into his personal accounts.
A lawyer representing Kojima said he will contest the claim in full.
The transfer
According to the complaint, Kojima was still president on June 24 when he told the company's then-head of accounting to pay ¥30 million to Enetopia Holdings, a company he had set up with his wife.
Kojima said he was "borrowing ¥30 million," the complaint states. The accounting chief did not defy the instruction and the money was sent from Tottori Gas's account.
The suit was filed with the Tottori District Court.