Prosecutors Not to Question Hatoyama over Political Donations

Tokyo, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)--Tokyo prosecutors will not question Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama over an unfolding scandal involving his political fund management body, informed sources told Jiji Press Tuesday.

The prosecutors apparently concluded that investigations found no
evidence of his involvement in the alleged false reporting by the body of
political donations.
Hatoyama will submit a detailed report on the matter to the Tokyo
District Public Prosecutors Office possibly next week, the sources said.
As Hatoyama has been accused of violating the political funds
control law in a complaint, the prosecutors office is expected to make a
final decision on its move after examining his report.
A former first public secretary of Hatoyama is said to have told
prosecutors that he started making false reports on the donations for
personal reasons, and the prime minister himself has explained that the
secretary made the false reporting on his own.
The former secretary is likely to be indicted without arrest for
the alleged violation of the law.
According to sources, the prosecutors questioned aides of
Hatoyama's mother, who is suspected of providing funds to the son, and
checked relevant accounting books and bank account records.
The prosecutors, however, appear to have reached a conclusion that
there is no evidence of Hatoyama's involvement although his mother's money
is believed to be a source of falsely reported donations.
As no interest payments were made on funds provided by his mother,
the prosecutors believe that the money should have been subject to the gift
tax. Hatoyama thus may be forced to file an amended tax return.