The Justice Ministry decided Thursday to reprimand the public prosecutor general over a bribery and fraud scandal involving a former senior official of the Osaka High Public Prosecutor's Office, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama said.
It is unprecedented for the nation's top prosecutor to be reprimanded.
The punishment will officially be decided at Friday's Cabinet meeting after Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama obtains approval from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The Cabinet is responsible for appointing top prosecutors.