The limited use of taxpayer money by local government officials for private occasions such as weddings and funerals among coworkers is permissible, the Audit and Inspection Commissioners of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government decided Monday.
The commissioners thus dismissed embezzlement charges filed by two Tokyo residents. Yuichi Goto and Masayuki Harada had separately asked the commissioners to launch a probe into the metro government's practice of using taxpayers' money to make offerings at private ceremonies and other events after the media reported that such customs had been going on since about 1965.
Monetary offerings are common practice on such occasions as weddings, where they are called "goshugi," and funerals, where they are known as "koden." The metro government said it spent some 36 million yen last year on such gifts, of which more than half was for private ceremonies for government workers.
"I don't think such use of taxpayers' money is acceptable, and I'll fight it in court," said Goto, who has filed a number of information disclosure lawsuits on government spending. However, the commissioners concluded that dipping into the coffers is acceptable because the monetary offerings are common practice and help maintain "smooth management" of organizations.
They also said there is a limit on each offering -- less than 10,000 yen for bureau chiefs and 5,000 yen for department chiefs.