Suspicion of providing bribes during district mayor election… Illegal Internet paid advertising is also proposed.
Representative Mito Kakizawa (House of Representatives) and four secretaries who provided cash to local ward councilors for the purpose of electing a specific candidate in the Koto Ward mayor election in Tokyo in April of this year were charged with violating the Public Official Election Act. NHK, Yomiuri Shimbun, etc. reported on the 28th that he was arrested by the Tokyo District Prosecutors’ Office.
According to this newspaper, Rep. Kakizawa conspired with four secretaries around February of this year to provide a total of 1 million yen to five people, including a district council member, as campaign compensation for the purpose of getting former district mayor Yayoi Kimura elected in the district mayor election, as well as three other district council members. He is accused of providing a total of 600,000 yen to people. At the time, Rep. Kakizawa supported former ward mayor Kimura, who fought against the candidate recommended by the Liberal Democratic Party in the ward mayor election, which was held with a split conservative structure.
Rep. Kakizawa has so far admitted to providing cash to district councilors and others during the investigation by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Special Department, but has reportedly denied the purpose of the purchase, saying, “It was a genuine consolation for a prospective candidate for the district council election.” He is known to have explained to former District Mayor Kimura that he suggested posting illegal Internet paid advertisements by saying, “I didn’t think it was illegal.”
Representative Kakizawa is a member of the House of Representatives (5 terms) for the 15th ward of Tokyo, which governs Koto Ward. He was appointed as Deputy Minister of Justice (Vice Minister) in the Kishida Cabinet’s cabinet reshuffle last September, but was suspended in October after being embroiled in an election law violation case. He voluntarily resigned and left the Liberal Democratic Party. Former District Mayor Kimura, who is under investigation by the Tokyo District Prosecutors’ Office on charges of violating election laws, also resigned at the end of October.
Previously, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Office’s special department searched and seized former District Mayor Kimura’s home and office in October, and Rep. Kakizawa’s office and secretary’s home in November. On the 14th of this month, the office and home of the National Assembly Hall were searched and seized.
Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, a spokesperson for the Japanese government, met with reporters in downtown Niigata on this day and said about Rep. Kakizawa’s arrest, “I will refrain from answering as it is a matter related to the activities of the investigative agency,” adding, “The arrest of the former Deputy Minister of Justice Very sorry. “As a government, we will work to restore trust,” he said.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said, “Arrests and indictments related to politics and money issues are frequent, and the number of members of the National Assembly with experience as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party has reached eight over the past five years.” He added, “They only encourage members to leave the party and resign due to personal problems, and strict enforcement measures are in place.” “There are aspects of the situation where we have been negligent in responding,” he pointed out.
This newspaper mentioned Prime Minister Kishida’s press conference on the 13th, in which he declared, “We will stand at the forefront and fight to renew the constitution of the Liberal Democratic Party to restore trust in politics,” and said, “Unless the party’s stance is revealed through concrete responses, there will be frequent events.” “The unfortunate events that occur cannot be stopped,” he pointed out.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.