The Hyogo Prefectural Bar Association announced that it is investigating lawyer Kiyoto Okada from Central Law Office in Kobe for allegedly failing to return approximately 95.2 million yen entrusted to him by a client. This investigation could lead to disciplinary actions by the ethics committee.
In May, a disciplinary complaint was filed against Okada by an heir involved in an inheritance case where Okada was the executor of the will. The complaint claims that Okada did not distribute the entrusted inheritance funds and has been unreachable. Consequently, the bar association requested an investigation by the ethics committee.
In June, the association further requested an investigation after Okada failed to cooperate in their inquiry regarding the handling of the funds he was holding.
Okada has not responded to the bar association’s investigation but indicated in a faxed statement that he is working on returning the entrusted and initial fees.
President Toshiki Nakayama explained that the decision to announce the investigation at this stage was due to the large amount of money involved and the serious nature of Okada’s non-cooperation in the investigation.
by MagazineKey4532