Nippon Television Network Corp. reprimanded three employees for a tabloid news show report that said outgoing Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori had been unwilling to step down because he wanted to make sure he received a retirement allowance, Nippon TV officials said Wednesday.
"The Wide" reported April 3 that Mori was reluctant to resign before a year in office because he wanted to make sure he was eligible for the allowance.
It said prime ministers are only eligible for the pay after serving at least one year, but the television station later discovered that the pay is awarded after a prime minister serves for a period of six months, the officials said.
Mori took office on April 5, 2000.
The producer of the program was stripped of his post and received a pay cut, while two of his superiors were reprimanded, the officials said.
Following a protest from the prime minister's staff during the program, Nippon TV issued a correction and an apology after the show ended.