Accountant in Japan Steals Millions To Support Lovers
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
TOKYO, Japan – An ‘unremarkable’ accountant stole 9.5 million pounds to support 17 lovers, a court in Japan heard yesterday.
Masaaki Matsubayashi, 56, admitted diverting money from a baking company’s health insurance scheme on more than 500 occasions in the last five years alone.
Colleagues were reportedly stunned to discover that Mr. Matsubayashi, an apparently unremarkable office worker, had numerous mistresses going back more than 25 years.
He reportedly bought several of them expensive Mercedes, one received a $17,500 kimono and he continued to pay about $2,600 a month to a lover he had not seen in years. Mr. Matsubayashi was office chief in the accounts department at the Shikishima Baking Company in Nagoya, where he was said to be a quiet man who left office parties early.
No one suspected that he maintained a secret apartment and toured nightclubs to drink with hostesses.
However, his home was said to be dilapidated. His wife, who is reported to have been unaware of his double life, has now divorced him.
The Shukan Jitsuwa magazine reported that he initially told police: “I want more new women. It’s what I live for. I don’t feel guilty at all.”
Yesterday, he told the court in Nagoya: “I am truly sorry.” He will be sentenced at a later date.
