Kawamura denies allegation over use of office expenses

TOKYO, Oct. 3 Kyodo - Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura on Friday denied a recently-surfaced allegation regarding the use office expenses of political organizations linked to him, saying that a condominium registered as the groups' office was not the home of his former secretary and political activities were actually held there.

But he also told a regular press conference that he should have written in
political fund reports that the condominium in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward was
rent-free, which falls in the category of ''a donation'' to political groups,
and will correct the report if necessary.
Kawamura also said he will swiftly disclose receipts to explain to the public
about the expenditures of the three organizations, disbanded in March, noting
that they logged a total of 970,000 yen in office expenses in 2007.
According to Kawamura, his former state-paid secretary had used the condominium
to stay overnight when she finished work late and on other occasions, but she
owns a home in Kanagawa Prefecture.
''The groups supporting me are acting in line with the political fund control
law, but I felt it is important to manage it so as not to arouse suspicion,''
Kawamura said. He assumed the current post last week under Prime Minister Taro
Aso.
The condominium, part of which was used as the office, is owned by a relative
of the late Tatsuo Tanaka, a former member of the House of Representatives.
Kawamura said he became a lower house member in 1990 after being named as
Tanaka's successor.
The organizations have been paying part of the utility costs and management
expenses, Kawamura added.
With detailed reporting currently not mandated, critics have said there is
potential for office expenses to be abused as a slush fund for politicians.
Revelations of questionable office expenses had cost three ministers their
positions in Shinzo Abe's Cabinet, who resigned in September 2007.
==Kyodo