兵庫県知事、百条委員会で証人尋問

3月中旬、元県西播磨県民局長が、兵庫県の斎藤元彦知事のパワハラ等挙げた文書を県議や報道機関に配布しました。

The 60-year-old former director-general had accused the governor of power harassment and other abusive behaviors in writing.

※abusive　虐待的な、罵倒の

知事は、告発内容は「事実無根」「うそ八百」「公務員失格」と記者会見で断じました。

The governor vehemently criticized him in a news conference that day, calling the documents “a pack of lies”. Saito has labeled the allegations as “groundless.”

※vehemently　猛烈に、激しく

※a pack of～　たくさんの～、一団　➾a whole bunch of lies　どっさりのウソ

※groundless　事実無根、根拠のない

He also said the official was “disqualified as a civil servant,” saying he prepared the document during business hours.

「公益通報者保護法」は内部告発者を守るため通報後の処分を禁止しています。

The whistleblower protection Act is to protect whistleblowers. They should not be subject to dismissal, demotion, or other disadvantageous treatment because they report the case.

※blow the whistle　〔不正などを〕暴露する、内部告発する ※whistleblower　内部告発者、公益通報者

しかし知事は公益通報に当たらないとして、局長の退職を無効にしました。局長はその後亡くなりました。

The official was scheduled to retire at the end of March, but the prefectural government revoked the retirement on the grounds that he might face disciplinary measures. The official was found dead on the night of July 7 in a possible suicide.

百条委員会が設置されました。

The special investigative committee (so-called article 100 committee) was set up by the prefectural assembly to conduct a probe into the case.

職員を対象に調査を実施したところ、中間結果でパワハラやおねだりといった職権乱用の事例が次々と発覚しました。

The interim report:　Nearly 40% of prefectural government employees surveyed had either witnessed or heard about his power harassment and souvenir demands during inspection trips.

Respondents wrote that "the governor got furious in his official car and kicked the front seat," that "he hit the desk and got angry," and "he would get angry if the media didn't come to events he attended."

One respondent wrote, "The governor tried on a leather jacket worth 400,000 yen and he said, 'This is good. Can I have it?'" The amount is worth about 2,700 dollars.

※職権乱用＝abuse of (one's) office [authority, power, right]／abuse of public office

齊藤知事自身も、100条委員会で証人尋問を受けました。辞任勧告を受けていますが、任期を全うすると言っています。

Saito testified under oath to the prefectural assembly’s investigative panel.

※testy under oath 宣誓して証言する

タイトル Embattled Hyogo Governor Vows to Serve Out His Term

So far, Saito has made it clear he intends to serve out his current term through July 2025.