YOKOHAMA -- A senior police officer with Yokosuka Police Station's community affairs division was arrested on Nov. 4 on suspicion of defrauding a resident living within his jurisdiction out of 7 million yen (about $46,000) by forging a power of attorney.

Yoshihiro Sawada, 36, is specifically accused of fraud as well as forging and using counterfeit private documents. The suspect has admitted to the charges, reportedly telling police that "the money was used to pay off debts." He had been working at a residential police box in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, which is adjacent to Yokohama, since February 2023.

Sawada was arrested by Kanagawa Prefectural Police for allegedly producing a power of attorney and other documents by forging the signature of a man in his 70s, living in the area under the jurisdiction of the police box, and using them to withdraw 7 million yen from his bank account at a post office in Yokohama on May 24.

According to the prefectural police's inspection office, Sawada was wearing his police uniform on the day he brought the victim's bankbook and seal to the post office. He apparently told the postal workers, "I was asked to come here," and showed his police identification handbook. The post office side explained that its workers "believed it because it was a policeman visiting." The victim's relative had reported the incident to the police in early October.

Investigative sources say Sawada had frequent contact with the victim through his work. Akihito Kato, head of the inspection office, commented, "This is an unforgivable act by a police officer." Sawada is the sixth prefectural police officer to be arrested this year.

(Japanese original by Makoto Kakizaki, Yokohama Bureau)