Japan: Akimoto could have bail revoked

The lawmaker accused of corruption has now been charged for paying a witness to give false testimony. His bail could be revoked.

Japan.- Former Senior Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office Tsukasa Akimoto is facing another serious accusation that could cause the revocation of his bail.

According to Tokyo prosecutors, he could be charged with violating laws on organised crime by attempting to pay a witness to give false testimony.

Prosecutors have asked the court to revoke his earlier bail terms. If the court grants the prosecution’s request, Akimoto will have to forfeit his JPY30 million (US$290,000) bail deposit.

While Akimoto has consistently maintained his innocence against a growing list of indictments, he was arrested again in August, and for a fourth time in September, for attempting to give cash to two former 500.com advisors, allegedly in exchange for them providing false testimony in court. Akimoto has remained in detention since the trial began.

Akimoto is being judged in a case in which he is accused of having received a bribe of JPY7.6 million from the Chinese company 500.com, which had been seeking to develop an IR in either Hokkaido or Okinawa.