On the basis of an investigation by a panel of the internal affairs ministry, the Social Insurance Agency has admitted that a staff worker in 1995 instructed a Tokyo company president to lower the figures of the employees' monthly incomes in pension records so that the company could pay lower pension premiums.

The case is likely the tip of the iceberg since falsification of pension records at the instruction of SIA workers have been alleged for some time. In addition, there are cases in which shortening of the period for premium payments through falsification is suspected.

The panel investigated 17 cases and confirmed that the SIA worker issued instructions to the Tokyo company when the worker's handwriting was found on a document kept by the company president. In the remaining 16 cases, no solid evidence was found.