If you told me you called the police on a 60 year old man for something like this, I'd wonder if you were a sociopath with nothing better to do. Good luck to him making a comeback at this stage, I'm sure a lot of schools will want a disgraced guy close to death.

No, I'm pretty much in agreement with you. I was more speaking in general about how to treat people in authority who do this. They went totally overboard in his particular case (especially taking away his pension), he did admit the theft and apologize, and I bet even most Japanese people would agree the reaction seems extreme. He hasn't "disgraced" himself. I'm sure he'll be able to get another job after some time passes. Maybe not as an administrator, if only because of the ageism there.

have some fucking perspective dude.

Chill out, I'm not the one who called the police. I only asked what people thought the appropriate punishment should be. Getting away with "just say sorry and pay back the $3.50" is too easy unless we're talking about a child.

I would not be surprised if like someone else here suggested the school only used this excuse to cover up some other hidden scandal... or maybe someone else on campus just hated him and wanted to take his job.