Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office indicts former employee ``attempted to maintain position'' in Asahi Kasei information leak case

Shoichi Furukawa (66), a former employee of the general chemical giant Asahi Kasei (Tokyo), was arrested by the Aichi Prefectural Police on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act in connection with the leakage of trade secrets related to semiconductor materials from Tokyo-based Asahi Kasei (Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture) In an interview with prefectural police, it was learned that the man had stated, ``I disclosed the information to show the Chinese company's employees that I had a wealth of knowledge and experience.I tried to maintain my status as an expert because I was being treated well.'' He has admitted to most of the charges.

According to prefectural police, in May 2024, Furukawa entered into a consulting contract with a company in his wife's name and a Chinese company. He is said to have been providing technical guidance to employees of Chinese companies. His explanation is that, ``In addition to a high salary, he was treated well, including transportation to and from the company and an interpreter provided.'' Prefectural police believe that he leaked information about Asahi Kasei's semiconductor materials in order to maintain his treatment.

On the 27th, the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office indicted Furukawa on charges of violating the same law, alleging that he took a hard disk containing information with him when he retired from Asahi Kasei in November 2018, and sent the data via app and email to officials at a Chinese company between August and September 2024. It has not been made clear whether he approves or disapproves.

According to Asahi Kasei, Furukawa joined the company in 1984. He was said to have been engaged in research and development of insulating materials in a development project related to electronic materials.