Air Self-Defense Force brass rigged bids for all 311 contracts struck by one of its four supply depots to procure office equipment and supplies during the four years to March 2009, a Defense Ministry panel alleged.

The Defense Ministry decided to replace ASDF Chief of Staff Kenichiro Hokazono, who was admonished over the case because of his supervisory responsibility, with Air Defense Commander Shigeru Iwasaki.

The First ASDF Depot in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, also diverted about ¥6 billion from separate budget items, including aircraft repair expenses, for 216 of the contracts worth a total of ¥7.56 billion that it concluded between fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2008.