ID :
52430
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 22:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/52430
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LDP lawmaker Nikai faces new political donations scandal
+
TOKYO, March 26 Kyodo -
A company linked to Nishimatsu Construction Co., at the center of a widening
political scandal, leased an office and provided dubious donations to industry
minister Toshihiro Nikai, sources familiar with the case said Thursday.
The scandal, in which a secretary of main opposition Democratic Party of Japan
leader Ichiro Ozawa was indicted earlier this week, has been spilling over to
the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Since around 1999, a political body of Nikai, a seasoned LDP lawmaker, has been
paying more than 2 million yen yearly to the affiliated company for renting an
apartment in Osaka, Nishimatsu and other sources said.
Since 2006, Nishimatsu, meanwhile, has given donations of about 3 million yen
annually to a local LDP chapter in Wakayama Prefecture led by Nikai, according
to the sources.
Nikai's political funds reports have no records that the donations were from
Nishimatsu, as the Tokyo-based construction company used the names of its
employees and others to pay 50,000 yen or less each, the sources said.
An individual donation of 50,000 yen or under requires no name listing in
political funds reports.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has already raided the affiliated
company in Tokyo, led by a former executive of Nishimatsu.
Prosecutors are examining documents obtained from the consultant company, with
a view that the donations from the Nishimatsu side might have been used to
compensate for the rent, the sources said.
Japanese law prohibits falsification of funds records or donations under other
people's names.
Nikai told reporters that his staffers are now investigating what kind of
donations his political bodies were receiving over the past years.
But the economy, trade and industry minister has denied any wrongdoing and said
he has no plan to step down from his current ministerial post.
Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters it is necessary for the minister to give
an appropriate explanation, saying, ''Accountability for raised suspicions
rests on individual lawmakers.''
Nikai used to be one of Ozawa's right-hand men. In 1993, Nikai, Ozawa and about
40 other lawmakers left the LDP but Nikai returned to the party 10 years later.
==Kyodo
2009-03-26 23:15:16
TOKYO, March 26 Kyodo -
A company linked to Nishimatsu Construction Co., at the center of a widening
political scandal, leased an office and provided dubious donations to industry
minister Toshihiro Nikai, sources familiar with the case said Thursday.
The scandal, in which a secretary of main opposition Democratic Party of Japan
leader Ichiro Ozawa was indicted earlier this week, has been spilling over to
the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Since around 1999, a political body of Nikai, a seasoned LDP lawmaker, has been
paying more than 2 million yen yearly to the affiliated company for renting an
apartment in Osaka, Nishimatsu and other sources said.
Since 2006, Nishimatsu, meanwhile, has given donations of about 3 million yen
annually to a local LDP chapter in Wakayama Prefecture led by Nikai, according
to the sources.
Nikai's political funds reports have no records that the donations were from
Nishimatsu, as the Tokyo-based construction company used the names of its
employees and others to pay 50,000 yen or less each, the sources said.
An individual donation of 50,000 yen or under requires no name listing in
political funds reports.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has already raided the affiliated
company in Tokyo, led by a former executive of Nishimatsu.
Prosecutors are examining documents obtained from the consultant company, with
a view that the donations from the Nishimatsu side might have been used to
compensate for the rent, the sources said.
Japanese law prohibits falsification of funds records or donations under other
people's names.
Nikai told reporters that his staffers are now investigating what kind of
donations his political bodies were receiving over the past years.
But the economy, trade and industry minister has denied any wrongdoing and said
he has no plan to step down from his current ministerial post.
Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters it is necessary for the minister to give
an appropriate explanation, saying, ''Accountability for raised suspicions
rests on individual lawmakers.''
Nikai used to be one of Ozawa's right-hand men. In 1993, Nikai, Ozawa and about
40 other lawmakers left the LDP but Nikai returned to the party 10 years later.
==Kyodo
2009-03-26 23:15:16
