A school principal has been fired and lost a pension worth $133,000 after allegedly underpaying for his coffees.
If taking snacks and drinks from work is a crime, then please don't tell my boss because this could end very badly for me.
This particular story unfolded in Japan, in the city of Takasago, nestled in Hyogo Prefecture, Honshu, as reported by local Japanese media outlet, Asahi.
The 59-year-old male principal of a Takasago junior high school found himself embroiled in controversy after reportedly exploiting a self-service coffee machine at a convenience store.
Reports suggest that the principal was caught pouring himself a large-size coffee while only paying for a regular-size cup, a discrepancy valued at 70 yen (47 cents).
This discrepancy, although seemingly trivial, caught the attention of a vigilant store clerk who promptly alerted the authorities, according to Japan Today.
It was revealed that this wasn't an isolated incident; the principal had allegedly committed the act twice before, as stated by the store clerk.
Subsequent investigations by the Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education uncovered that the principal had confessed to underpaying for coffee seven times, totaling approximately 490 yen ($3.26).
The principal reportedly admitted to the board that his actions were impulsive and expressed genuine remorse for his behavior.
Nevertheless, his remorse did not save him from the repercussions. He was officially dismissed from his position on January 30, with the board citing "gross misconduct unbecoming of an educational public servant."
The board members expressed regret for the incident, stating: "We are sorry from the bottom of our hearts for allowing it to happen."
Sora News reported that this case ignited a debate online, with one person saying: "He’s an older guy, he probably could have gotten away with saying he didn’t know how to use the machine."
While a second added: "He could have bought like 100,000 Large Coffees with those retirement benefits he lost."
Not everyone was sympathetic towards the principal, as another person said: "It does set a bad example for the kids if someone isn’t held accountable for their misdeeds."
Takashi Sakata, a professor from Japan Women’s University, weighed in on the matter, suggesting that the punishment may have been disproportionately harsh.
While theft should be taken seriously, it does seem slightly harsh to remove a pension worth $133,000 over a few cups of coffee.
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