Katsutoshi Matsuo, a former Foreign Ministry official accused of swindling the government, was served a third arrest warrant Tuesday, bringing the total amount he is suspected of embezzling to 267 million yen, police said.
The latest warrant was served on suspicion that Matsuo, 55, a former logistics chief at the ministry, embezzled 106 million yen while arranging three overseas trips by prime ministers in the late 1990s, they said.
Matsuo has already been indicted on charges of swindling 161 million yen by forging documents and padding hotel bills involving six other trips taken by prime ministers.
He arranged 46 trips for prime ministers between November 1993 and July 1999 as head of the ministry's Overseas Visit Support Division. Police sources earlier said investigators are questioning him on suspicion he embezzled money for all 46 trips.