On March 14, the Yamaguchi Prefectural Police sent a police inspector in his 50s for prosecution on suspicion of indecent assault against a female acquaintance without her consent.
The officer, who was stationed at a local police station, was also given a six-month suspension as disciplinary action before resigning on the same day.
According to the police, the officer admitted to the charges, claiming he had mistakenly believed the woman was interested in him.
In addition to the indecent assault allegations, the officer was also found to have engaged in an 'inappropriate relationship' with another woman, though authorities did not disclose further details or confirm whether the relationship involved adultery.
The incident in question took place in November last year, when the officer and the female acquaintance dined together in the prefecture.
The suspect allegedly grabbed her body and touched her over her clothing without her consent, both inside the restaurant and on the street.
This case raises concerns about the ethical conduct of law enforcement officers and the need for stricter disciplinary measures in cases of misconduct.
How can police departments improve internal oversight to prevent such incidents from occurring?.