Three Aichi Prefectural Police officers fabricated the confiscation of a handgun last July in an attempt to make it appear that the firearm, which had actually been seized in Osaka, was found in Aichi Prefecture, it was learned Friday.
According to prefectural police officials, they include a 54-year-old assistant inspector and 52-year-old sergeant.
The three have admitted to the allegations, saying they wanted to improve handgun confiscation figures for the Aichi force. They have been suspended and the case, an potential violation of the firearms control law, was sent to prosecutors later Friday.
The officers are suspected of unlawfully possessing a firearm found in an Osaka coin locker in June because they transported the weapon by car to Aichi Prefecture, according to investigators.