Former Fukui governor’s actions could be seen as sexual assault, lawyers say

The Fukui Prefectural Government released a report Wednesday that acknowledged its former governor, who resigned last month, had sexually harassed four female prefectural workers, with some of his actions possibly considered as sexual assault under the law.

The report, compiled by three appointed lawyers, determined that former Gov. Tatsuji Sugimoto sexually harassed the women physically on three occasions, including once when he put his hands up one of the victim’s skirt and touched her thigh and buttocks. The harassment had been ongoing since he became the prefecture’s general affairs manager in 2004.

“There is a possibility that Sugimoto was groping, which could constitute sexual assault under the Penal Code,” the report said.