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Peter Lyon21 Jun 2015
NEWS

Toyota executive arrested

CEO apologises after Toyota's first female executive is arrested in Japan on drug charges

Toyota's highest-ranking female executive and the firm’s new head of communications, Julie Hamp, was arrested at a Tokyo hotel on Thursday for allegedly importing a painkiller that is illegal under Japan's strict drug laws.

Oxycodone is a prescription drug in both the United States and Japan. Bringing the drug into Japan requires prior approval from the government and it must be carried by the individual.

Last night at the company’s Tokyo headquarters Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda, who is well-known for taking front stage centre when it comes to revealing new cars or announcing financial results, took it on himself to appear before a packed media audience to apologise for the actions of one of his own.

Bowing deeply, Toyoda said: "We sincerely apologise for causing so much trouble. I believe in her and will support the ongoing investigations to the best of my ability.”

Japan’s national broadcaster NHK reported that 57 tablets containing the painkiller oxycodone were found last week in the bottom of a package mailed to herself from Kentucky, declaring the contents to be a necklace.

Hamp has denied the charges. A spokesman for Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department said she told authorities that she did not think she had imported an illegal substance.

Hamp, 55, was promoted in March to head of communications for the car-maker after previously working at Toyota's North American division. Before that, the New York native held senior positions at Pepsi Co and General Motors.

Japanese drug laws ban some medications commonly available as prescription medications in other countries and jail time for possession of illegal narcotics such as cocaine or methamphetamine are not uncommon.

The high-profile case brings back memories of Paul McCartney's arrest in 1980 at Tokyo airport after marijuana was found in his suitcase.

His response to authorities mirrored the reactions of many foreigners who bring illegal drugs and medications to Japan. “I didn’t try to hide it. I had just come from America and still had the American attitude that marijuana isn’t that bad. I didn’t realise just how strict the Japanese attitude is.”

After spending nine days in jail, the former Beatle thanked his lucky stars that prosecutors, who were pushing for up to nine years, didn't get their way.

If Hamp is found guilty of importing the painkillers, she could face one to 10 years in a Japanese prison, or be deported. Akio Toyoda says that the case is still under investigation so he does not have all of the information concerning the incident.

He added that he had chosen Hamp for her sound character and personality and will do his utmost to return his first female executive to work as soon as possible.

The allegations have sent shock waves through Toyota and provided a brief glimpse inside the corporate culture of Japan’s – and the world's – top car company.

"To me, executives and staff who report directly to me are like my children," Toyoda said. "It's the responsibility of a parent to protect his children and, if a child gets out of line, it's also a parent's responsibility to apologise."

Earlier this year, an American teaching English in Japan was detained for two weeks after Japanese authorities intercepted a package containing legally-prescribed tablets of the medication Adderall, used to treat attention deficit disorder.

Carrie Russell was only released after intervention from US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Senator Ron Wyden, of her home state of Oregon. Whether ambassadorial intervention will be necessary here remains to be seen.

All eyes will be focused on Toyota next week when further details of the investigation come to light.

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Written byPeter Lyon
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