The Foreign Ministry official who was fired last month on suspicion of embezzlement had been entrusted with 965 million yen between August 1993 and October 1999, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Thursday.
It is the first time the government has revealed the amount of money from a controversial discretionary fund entrusted to Katsutoshi Matsuo, who is suspected of siphoning off some of the secret reserves to support an extravagant lifestyle.
Speaking before the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Fukuda said the government will take legislative measures to demand that Matsuo return the money if the allegations prove true.