An NHK sports reporter informed a Japan Sumo Association official beforehand of a search by Tokyo police in July of locations for evidence of illegal gambling in a scandal that rocked the national sport, NHK alleged Friday.
The reporter, in his 30s, was in the NHK news department's sports section. He e-mailed via mobile phone a message around midnight July 6 telling the official that searches would take place the following day. The raids were carried out on the morning of July 7.
NHK said it will consider reprimanding the reporter over ethics, while a senior investigator said the police have already questioned the reporter on a voluntary basis and are considering whether his deed constitutes a crime.