NHK has learned that members of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force fraudulently received allowances for diving training and duty over the past several years.
MSDF personnel who can perform deep sea diving are tasked with rescuing crews in the event of a submarine accident or other emergencies. When they dive for training or on duty, they are paid more than 10,000 yen, or over 60 dollars, per hour at most, depending on how deep they dive.
Defense Ministry sources told NHK that MSDF personnel claimed such allowances, even though they actually did not dive. They say the money totaled tens of millions of yen.
The MSDF is demanding that the members pay back the allowances they received. The sources say dozens of MSDF personnel are expected to be reprimanded.
The MSDF chief of staff earlier expressed his intention to step down after it was found that senior MSDF officials allowed unqualified members to handle “specially designated” confidential information. The senior officials are expected to be reprimanded.