The data falsification scandal dogging Kobe Steel Ltd., Japan's third largest steel maker, expanded Friday as the company revealed more instances of misconduct, including having shipped steel wire and copper products that were untested or did not meet specifications. The company has now confirmed that about 500 customers of Kobe Steel have been affected by the scandal.
It is unclear how many more cases of data falsification will emerge and how much it will financially damage the firm, Kobe Steel Chairman and President Hiroya Kawasaki said during a hastily arranged news conference in Tokyo.
"We are investigating all our business sections ... as we were told by the industry ministry, we'd like to complete the investigation as soon as possible," Kawasaki said.