The Akita Prefectural Prosecutor's Office in Japan has charged 52-year-old judge Morimoto from Niigata City on April 17 with systematic online casino gambling, embezzlement of public funds, and other offenses, according to Akita Asahi Broadcasting (AAB).
The prosecution decided not to impose pre-trial detention.
According to the charges, in 2023, Morimoto accessed unnamed online casino websites at least 60,000 times using his smartphone and other devices to play baccarat. During this period, the judge was employed at a court in southern Akita Prefecture and managed the bank account of the governing association of a public servant dormitory in Yokote City.
From April 2023 to May 2025, he allegedly embezzled approximately $17,600 from this account, including transfers to his own account, and spent part of the funds in online casinos. The Akita Prosecutor's Office has not disclosed whether the accused has admitted guilt, citing the interests of the investigation.