Haneda security screener admits in court to stealing cash to feel superior

“I didn’t take it,” he said while showing his chest pocket

The first trial hearing for Ryū Matsumoto (21 at the time of arrest), charged with theft for stealing cash from a passenger during carry-on baggage inspection at Haneda Airport, was held at the Tokyo District Court on November 17.

Matsumoto, who worked as a security inspector at Haneda, was suspected of taking cash that a passenger placed in a tray during screening. He was arrested on theft charges by September 15.

FRIDAY Digital interviewed the male victim in his 30s shortly after the incident came to light.

“I was on JAL flight 333 from Haneda to Fukuoka, departing at 7:15 p.m. on September 13. In the tray for baggage inspection, I placed my backpack, phone, and 100,000 yen, which I took from my left pants pocket and put beside the backpack. But when I went through the metal detector and came out, the 100,000 yen I had placed in the tray was gone.”

He waited for around ten minutes, but the money was never found.

“Losing patience, I asked to speak directly to the young security inspector who had handled the screening. That turned out to be Matsumoto. I asked, ‘You confirmed that I placed 100,000 yen in the tray, right?’ and he admitted in a small voice, ‘Yes, I confirmed it.’ When I pressed him, saying, ‘It’s missing because you took it, isn’t that right?’ he just kept insisting, ‘I didn’t take it.’ He even showed me the chest pocket of his shirt under the uniform, repeating, ‘I didn’t take it,’ which felt unnatural.

His supervisor was also checking the tray monitor footage. Suddenly he shouted ‘Whoa!!’ and his expression stiffened. Immediately afterward, police officers took Matsumoto into a separate room.”

Despite repeatedly committing bold thefts, Matsumoto appeared extremely worn down on the day of the trial. Wearing a black suit, he looked pale and tense, keeping his head lowered throughout. When he stepped unsteadily onto the witness stand, he admitted to the charges, saying, “There is no mistake.”

A national newspaper social-affairs reporter adds:

“Matsumoto had joined the security company contracted for Haneda’s screening operations only this April. Upon arrest, he reportedly told police: ‘I’ve done it 70 to 80 times since around August. I stole about 1.5 million yen in total. I did it for the thrill.’ He hid the cash inside the cardboard tubes of toilet paper rolls in the restroom. Since a brand-new employee caused an incident that jeopardized airport security, the news made major headlines at the time.”

Because having more money than others

From the prosecutor’s opening statement, Matsumoto’s distorted vanity and obsession with money became clear.

Matsumoto pretended to tidy the passenger’s belongings and slipped the cash placed in the tray into the pocket of his uniform. He then went to the restroom and hid the money inside the cardboard tube of a roll of toilet paper. When the victim realized the cash was missing and reported it, police reviewed surveillance footage and discovered Matsumoto heading toward the restroom. When questioned, he admitted to the crime.

He had been depositing the stolen money into his own bank account. Regarding his motive, he stated:

“I wanted to feel a sense of superiority by having more money than other people.”

Matsumoto earned a monthly salary of 230,000 yen from his company and an additional 100,000 yen from a part-time job, but he said:

“Even giving up my days off to work, I felt this was the limit, so I decided to take money from passengers.”

He mainly targeted bi-fold wallets. The reason:

“Because it’s easy to see the bills and easy to take them.”

He set for himself a three-second rule—the time from removing the bills to placing them in his uniform chest pocket—showing how habitual the thefts had become.

But the price he and his family paid was enormous. When Matsumoto’s father testified as a witness, he answered “I’m unemployed” when asked about his occupation. He continued:

“I resigned because of this incident. I became unable to work myself, and my wife and mother became ill from the stress of what happened. I quit my job to support them. My discipline was too lax, and it led to this. I want to rehabilitate him somehow. I promise to always face him and help him make amends.”

“If I hadn’t been arrested, I probably would have continued.”

During questioning, when the defense asked Matsumoto about his arrest, he said:

“I am truly sorry for causing so much trouble through my selfish actions. I deeply feel that I damaged the airport’s image and betrayed the trust placed in the company.”

He continued:

“Only after being arrested did I realize the seriousness of what I had done. I didn’t think what I was doing was wrong.”

When the judge asked him, “Did you have any goal for how much money you wanted to make?” he replied:

“There wasn’t anything in particular that I wanted. If I hadn’t been arrested I think I would have kept doing it.”

Over time, it seems the act of stealing itself, rather than earning money, had become his purpose.

Regarding his family, he said:

“Because of my actions, I dragged others down with me. I can’t get it out of my mind. I’m truly sorry for changing their lives.”

The verdict is scheduled to be handed down today, November 25.