Former managing director of SoftBank subsidiary arrested, suspected of embezzling 170 million yen Metropolitan Police Department

On the 1st, the Metropolitan Police Department's Investigation Division 2 arrested Hitoshi Murai (52) of Dainichi, Yotsukaido City, Chiba Prefecture, a former managing director of EM Net Japan (Tokyo, listed on TSE Growth), a subsidiary of SoftBank that handles online advertising, on suspicion of embezzling a total of 170 million yen from a company account. It has not been made clear whether he approves or disapproves.

According to the division and other sources, Murai appears to have repeatedly embezzled money to make up for losses from FX trading. The division estimates that the amount of embezzlement over the past year totaled 460 million yen.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of embezzling money by transferring a total of 170 million yen from his company's account to his own account seven times between August and December last year.

According to a report by EMnet Japan, Murai abused his position as chief financial officer (CFO), who has the authority to instruct and approve remittances. He used the company's representative seal without permission, forged a loan agreement, and sent money pretending to be a legitimate loan to himself. He reportedly told his subordinates, ``Please don't talk about it because it's private,'' and falsified account books to avoid detection.