Former Olympus CEO indicted on suspected violation of drug laws (updated)

OLYMPUS

27/11/2024 10:06

(Adds prosecutors' confirmation of indictment, background)
       TOKYO, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Japanese prosecutors said on
Wednesday they had indicted former Olympus Corp  7733.T  Chief
Executive Stefan Kaufmann over alleged violations of law
concerning controlled substances.   
    A spokesperson at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors
Office did not give any further details. 
    Kaufmann was forced to resign last month after the
allegation surfaced that he bought illegal drugs.
        Reuters has not been able to reach Kaufmann for comment.
  
        Kaufmann, a German national who took the helm in April
last year, had been tasked with expanding Olympus' medical
equipment business after preceding CEO Yasuo Takeuchi steered
the company through years of asset sales.
  
        Ahead of the news of Kaufmann's indictment, shares in
Olympus closed down 1.9%, while the benchmark Nikkei average
 .N225  fell 0.8%.    

 (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama, Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by
David Dolan and Kim Coghill)
 ((Satoshi.Sugiyama@thomsonreuters.com;))