Tokyo police investigating the alleged embezzlement of government VIP travel funds broadened their inquiry and questioned a senior Foreign Ministry official who was once based at the Cabinet secretariat and involved in the fund's operation, sources close to the investigation said.
The official was believed to have directly handed the discretionary funds to Katsutoshi Matsuo, who was fired from the ministry Thursday for allegedly embezzling at least 54 million yen while he served as head of the office in charge of logistics for overseas trips.
The office takes care of the prime minister and other state VIPs.