Japan removes Ambassador to Croatia after sex scandal

2011-12-10 17:39:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The Japanese Foreign Ministry on Friday replaced its envoy to Croatia after he was accused of sexually harassing a female employee, local media reported on Saturday.

Yoshio Tamura, who was named ambassador to Croatia in March 2009, had been under investigation since the beginning of this year after a Croatian woman in her 20s filed a sexual harassment complaint against the envoy last year.

According to the Kyodo news agency, sources informed that Tamura had 'physical contact' with the woman in April 2010 while the two were seated at the back of a vehicle during official business. Repeated advances continued since the incident, which prompted the woman, who had recently been employed at the embassy, to file the complaint.

As a result, the Japanese Foreign Ministry sent an official in mid-January to investigate the situation. After an investigation, a report was filed which concluded that the ambassador had in fact sexually harassed the woman.

Tamura, however, has repeatedly denied the accusations. In addition to removing him from his post, the ministry said a wider personnel reshuffle is expected to take place on December 20. Despite the report, however, no disciplinary action will be taken against Tamura.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-10

Here is a little bit more "juice" to this story...

"According to Jiji Press, the woman, in her 20s, accused Ambassador Yoshio Tamura of forcibly hugging, molesting and kissing her in a car earlier this year."

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