KUALA LUMPUR: A junior high school principal in Japan lost his job and retirement pay over 180 yen (RM5.74) cup of coffee.
According to The Asahi Shimbun, the principal was punished by the Hyogo Prefecture's education board for overfilling his coffee cup at a convenience store.
The report said the 59-year-old principal paid 110 yen (RM3.51) for a regular-sized coffee at a self-service machine on Dec 21.
However, a store clerk caught him filling his cup with a large serving of coffee which cost 180 yen, and confronted him.
The principal admitted to cheating and confessed to having done so on two other occasions.
The matter was reported to the police but the Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office ultimately decided against indicting the principal.
However, the education board decided to act and interviewed the principal who expressed remorse for the incident.
The principal reportedly said the incident happened at the spur of the moment, though he also admitted to doing the same thing on four other occasions at a separate store.
On Jan 30, the education board announced the principal's sacking and revocation of his teaching license.
It also forfeited the man's retirement pay, understood to be around 20 million yen (RM 637,908) retirement pay.
The education board has faced criticism over its decision with some describing it as excessive.
An official from the education board however has defended its decision, saying it was appropriate considering the principal's past disciplinary issues.