Foreign Ministry personnel used more than 100 million yen in illicitly pooled funds at the ministry over the past six years by padding hotel bills and other means, Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka said Tuesday.
In announcing an interim report on the ministry's in-house probe into the misappropriation of public funds by bureaucrats, Tanaka said some 70 sections -- about two-thirds of the ministry's total -- pooled extra funds from such occasions as receptions and international conferences.
While about half of the pooled funds were used for entertaining foreign guests and other official purposes, the rest was used by ministry staff for internal parties and by individual staff members for personal purposes.
"I regret to say that these practices were widespread in the ministry, and taking into account the seriousness of the matter, the ministry staff will pay back all the pooled funds -- with interest -- to government coffers," she told a news conference in the evening. "This inappropriate practice is extremely regrettable and I deeply apologize to the Japanese people."
Tanaka said she will take strict punitive measures against people involved, especially against those who used the money for personal purposes. Tanaka added she will also share the burden of paying back the funds.
In July, the ministry set up a task force headed by Senior Vice Foreign Minister Seiken Sugiura to look into reports of suspicious activity by ministry personnel in the wake of a series of money-related scandals.
The task force is now investigating ministerial transactions with 31 companies, including hotels, car hire companies and travel agencies.
The ministry will announce the final report as soon as possible, Tanaka said.
Results were initially expected in late October, but the in-house probe was continued after new documents related to the case were found, according to ministry officials.