A former bus driver of Nagoya Railroad Co. (Meitetsu) was handed a suspended prison term Friday at the Nagoya District Court for driving a company bus with an expired license.
Hiroshi Kawaguchi, 37, whose license had expired in October 2001, drove Meitetsu buses on 109 occasions until he was involved in a traffic accident in February.
Seven company officials were indicted on charges of giving the Chubu Transport Bureau false information concerning the date on which they learned the license had expired.
Prosecutors had demanded an 18-month prison term for Kawaguchi, arguing that he should have been aware that he was responsible for the lives of bus passengers.
Kawaguchi's 18-month term was suspended for four years.