Man commits suicide after disappearance of prized bull semen stocks

(Mainichi Japan) November 25, 2009

IKI, Nagasaki -- Both the prefecture and the Japan Agricultural Cooperative (JA) branch here are investigating after some 1,300 tubes of prized bull semen went missing and a person connected with the material committed suicide.

A prefectural inquiry discovered the frozen semen -- valued at 1,220-510 yen per tube for a total loss of about 1.5 million yen -- was missing in August, and JA Iki has set up a special investigative committee to try and shed light on the disappearance.

According to the prefecture's animal husbandry section, the 0.5 cc tubes of semen -- certified by the Nagasaki Japanese beef promotion committee as stock for breeding Nagasaki-branded beef -- are sold at 14 locations throughout the prefecture. After the theft of frozen bull semen in Miyazaki Prefecture in April, Nagasaki Prefecture conducted its own survey of the 14 sales points from July through November. When JA Iki was surveyed on Aug. 11-12, authorities discovered the branch was about 1,300 tubes short of its official stock of some 4,200.

After the prefecture pointed out the shortfall, JA Iki set up a special investigation committee on Nov. 6. However, a 38-year-old employee responsible for managing the stock of frozen semen was found hanged on Nov. 3. Police judged the death a suicide. There was no suicide note.

"Improper management may have occurred, and we believe the man who committed suicide new something of the circumstances," JA Iki stated, and continues to investigate in conjunction with prefectural authorities.