Photo/Illutration The Defense Ministry in Tokyo’s Ichigaya district (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

A captain in the Maritime Self-Defense Force is under investigation for leaking state secrets, according to well-placed Defense Ministry sources.

They said the officer will likely face dismissal as well as other disciplinary action.

The case marks the first instance of a crime involving the leaking of national security intelligence under a law to protect specially designated secrets that took effect in 2014.

Several retired MSDF personnel contacted serving members to ferret out sensitive information from the captain, the sources said.

They, too, will likely be subject to disciplinary measures.

Under the law, the government designates secrets in the four fields of defense, diplomacy, anti-spying and terrorism prevention that should be protected due to the sensitive nature of the material.

Only individuals given security clearance are allowed to handle such intelligence.

Leaking such secrets carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

Those in the private sector who induce officials to leak information also face a maximum prison sentence of five years.

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