SDF Officer Admonished over Verbal Abuse of Lawmaker

May 9, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's Defense Ministry admonished a Self-Defense Forces officer on Tuesday over his verbal abuse of a lawmaker last month.

The Air SDF major in his 30s, who belongs to the Joint Staff, verbally abused House of Councillors lawmaker Hiroyuki Konishi, such as by calling him an idiot, and breached his duty to maintain the SDF's dignity, according to the ministry.

The ministry, however, did not confirm whether the officer called Konishi "an enemy of the people," as the lawmaker and the officer remain divided over whether any such remark was made.

The admonition is less severe than a disciplinary action that has a direct impact on promotion.

The ministry said it decided to give the admonition partly because Konishi accepted the withdrawal of the remarks and apologies by the officer on the scene.

On the night of April 16, the ASDF major bumped into Konishi while jogging off duty in front of an office building of Diet members in Tokyo's Nagatacho district, according to the ministry.

The ministry said he verbally abused Konishi with remarks such as "You're damaging the national interest," "Are you an idiot?" and "You make me sick."

According to the ministry, the major felt that Konishi was opposed to the country's national security laws. Their quarrel started after the officer shouted at the lawmaker, "Work for the country." Jiji Press