Pension officials have embezzled more than ¥300 million from the government since 1963, according to recent reports.

The Social Insurance Agency, which oversees Japan's pension systems, issued the reports following a government request amid a widening pension scandal.

The total amount of money local and national pension officials pocketed since 1963 — the year after the agency was set up — was ¥343 million and involved 99 cases, 30 of which were discovered during a probe that began last month, said government reports released Sept. 3.

The agency has dismissed 41 agency officials and suspended three others over the embezzlements, the reports said.