TOKYO - Japan's public broadcaster NHK said Wednesday that one of its employees was sexually assaulted by a participant in one of its programs.
The broadcaster said the employee, whose health deteriorated following the incident, took a leave of absence and requested a transfer to a different workplace. The transfer request was denied and was not approved until about three years later.
The employee filed a complaint through a labor union last April, prompting NHK to establish a three-member investigative committee, including an external lawyer, the following month.
Regarding NHK's conduct, the committee said it found that "despite the severity of the assault, the response was limited to following established procedures."
"I deeply regret that this incident occurred," NHK President Tatsuhiko Inoue said in a statement, adding, "I sincerely apologize for the inappropriateness (of NHK's actions) at the time."
