A Japanese bus driver with 29 years of service lost his $84,000 retirement package after being caught stealing approximately $7 from passenger fares. In February 2022, the 58-year-old driver was recorded by his bus’s dashcam pocketing a 1,000-yen bill instead of depositing it into the fare machine. Despite denying the theft when confronted, the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau dismissed him, resulting in the forfeiture of his pension. The driver challenged the decision in court, initially losing his case. However, a lower court later ruled the punishment excessive. This decision was ultimately overturned by Japan’s Supreme Court, which reinstated the original penalty, citing concerns about maintaining public trust in the transportation system.   

The Supreme Court’s ruling emphasized that the driver’s conduct could undermine public confidence in the system and the sound operation of the bus service. The court also noted that the driver had been reprimanded several times during his career for various incidents, including repeatedly smoking an electronic cigarette while on duty, albeit when there were no passengers on board. Kyoto City officials supported the decision, stating that strict measures are necessary to prevent carelessness and erosion of public trust in their services.   

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