Fujitsu explains top exec's departure

Fujitsu may find itself under scrutiny following the revelation of new details in the departure of a top executive.

The company issued a revision over the weekend to its announcement of the departure of president Kuniaki Nozoe in September. The original reason given was "illness", but Fujitsu has now cited links to a company with an "unfavourable reputation".

"Around February 2009, Nozoe was pursuing a project which involved a third-party company whose representative director was a long acquaintance," the company said in a statement.

"Since this third-party company's corporate group was said to have an unfavourable reputation, the company conducted an investigation and determined that, from the perspective of the Fujitsu Way, which outlines the principles and code of conduct by which our employees act, a relationship with this third-party company was inappropriate."

Fujitsu declined to give the name of the company in question, but acknowledged that Nozoe's actions were not illegal.

Nozoe has reportedly denied the allegations and filed to have his removal from the company overturned. Investigators from the Tokyo Stock Exchange are also reportedly investigating the matter.