TOKYO (TR) – It was 23 years in the past that an enormous embezzlement scandal involving the Aomori Prefectural Housing Company emerged.
On the forefront of the case was former worker Yuji Chida, 67, and his spouse, Chilean nationwide Anita Alvarado. Chida was later convicted of embezzling over 1.4 billion yen, most of which he despatched to Alvarado, who now lives in Chile.
Chida sat down with the Asahi Shimbun (Oct. 14) to share his present frame of mind and specific his need to apologize for his previous misdeeds.
“I’m virtually 70 years previous, and talking in regards to the incident is a method to attract a line in my life.” Chida mentioned, “Due to my embezzlement, many individuals, together with the company, the individuals of Aomori Prefecture, and lots of others, have suffered psychological and monetary stress. I have to apologize.”
Palatial residence in Santiago
In 1997, Alvarado married Chida, whom she met in Aomori Prefecture. Whereas they have been collectively, Chida supplied her with greater than 1 billion yen in funds that he embezzled from his then employer, the Aomori Prefectural Housing Provide Public Company.
Chida misused his place because the company’s accountant, and embezzled over 1.4 billion yen by withdrawing money from the company’s account at a financial institution between 1994 and 2001. At the very least 800 million yen of that (or extra seemingly 1.1 billion yen, based on Chida) was despatched to Alvarado, now 51.
Throughout questioning, Chida mentioned he repeatedly visited hostess golf equipment within the Ginza and Roppongi areas. He additionally introduced ladies on journeys to Fukuoka and Kyoto prefectures.
Information studies from the time mentioned that Anita used the funds have been used on a palatial residence in Santiago, a restaurant, hospitals, abroad journeys and spending sprees.
After Chida’s arrest, Alvarado claimed to not know the funds have been embezzled. She additionally declared that she had spent all the cash. Thereafter, she turned referred to as “the Chilean geisha” by media in Chile.
In accordance with Aomori Prefecture, which took over the rights to claims from the company when it was dissolved, lower than 10 % of the embezzled funds have been repaid.
A courtroom later handed Chida a 14-year jail time period, which he accomplished in 2016. At this time, Chida lives alone in an condominium and spends his days searching for work.
“I need her to pay it again”
As a result of influence of the incident, Chiba has been unable to discover a everlasting place. He advised the Asahi, “[People say], ‘He stole cash from a public company, went to jail, and lived off taxpayers’ cash for 14 years. He’s fairly smug.’ It’s pathetic that folks consider me like that. The fact could also be harsh, however I need to work and minimize down alone dwelling and provides again to the individuals of Aomori, whether or not it’s 1,000 yen or 2,000 yen.”
Though he has not met Alvarado for the reason that incident got here to gentle, they’re nonetheless married. They haven’t had an opportunity to debate divorce, as they haven’t had any contact with one another.
Chida mentioned, “If there may be even any sum of money left, I need her to pay it again and return it to the individuals of Aomori Prefecture. That’s what I ask of her now.”