The Ground Self-Defense Force said Tuesday it has punished eight members, including a colonel in charge of criminal investigations, for embezzling about 4.7 million yen in public funds by claiming about 100 false business trips between 1999 and 2001.
Of the eight, the colonel at the GSDF's police unit and two others have been suspended for six to seven days and three have been punished with pay cuts, the GSDF said. The two others were admonished, it said.
The GSDF said they used the money to fund criminal investigations and not for personal use.
The GSDF's police unit plans to send papers on the personnel to prosecutors for alleged fraud, the GSDF said.
All eight have admitted to embezzling the funds, saying they claimed false business trips to secure funds for their investigations, it said.
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