Note: Machine-translated
In the case of a 25-year-old male chief of the 2nd Division of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (from Asahikawa), who was dishonorable discharged from his unit in August for stealing equipment from the garrison, it was found that he had conspired with a 24-year-old male acquaintance who was a former JSDF officer to illegally enter Kamifurano Garrison by hiding him in the boot of his car and steal equipment from the garrison. The two men stole the equipment with the intention of selling it, and the fact that in recent years equipment has been traded through various means, including the internet, is believed to have been a factor in the incident.
According to the ruling by the Kushiro District Court, Kitami Branch and the 2nd Division of the JSDF, around 11 August last year, the former army chief entered the changing room of a maintenance shop in Kamifurano Garrison, where he was working, and stole 17 items (with a total market value of approximately JPY 60 000), including camouflage-patterned combat uniform, back pouch and belt. At the time, the chief land guard, who was an active duty member of the JSDF, hid an acquaintance who was a former JSDF officer in the boot of his car and showed his own identity card and other documents, pretending to be an official to enter the premises and evade security. The court strongly condemned him for misusing his skills and experience as a SDF officer.
The chief officer also informed a male acquaintance of the route of entry into the Engaru garrison and the location of the equipment. The acquaintance stole 79 items (worth approximately 150,000 yen), including a backpack, from the garrison last November and was convicted in August this year of theft and other offences.
According to the 2nd division, the army chief said that he was in debt and wanted a share of the equipment sold (by the acquaintance). The division has not revealed how the stolen items were sold.
JSDF equipment has its enthusiasts, and in recent years it has been traded on internet sites, where it is anonymous and can easily be bought and sold between individuals. All equipment supplied by the JSDF is usually obliged to be returned when the soldier leaves the JSDF, and selling or transferring it is considered an illegal act.
On the other hand, the military surplus shop Rockland (in Hiroshima City), which purchases Japan Self Defence Force-specific products from manufacturers of equipment and sells them to the general public, explains that “in recent years, with the popularity of survival games (airsoft), Japan Self-Defence Force-related goods are traded at high prices on auction sites”.
Source: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2003beb2b902bfa3a860a5b968a942c967730f42
Comment section: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2003beb2b902bfa3a860a5b968a942c967730f42/comments
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