Japanese lawmaker released on bail in casino case

Japanese lawmaker released on bail in casino case

The Japanese casino bribe scandal dropped another chapter this week after a lawmaker indicted for taking money was released on bail.

Japan.- Japanese society was shaken after the authorities discovered a casino bribe case. However, one of the lawmakers indicted for taking money was released on bail this week.

Tsukasa Akimoto indiction relates to €63k he got from bribes to favour a company in a Japanese casino project.

Confession

After many politicians denied getting money from casino operators, Mikio Shimoji decided to take a different direction.

The Japanese lawmaker admitted having taken a bribe from a Chinese gambling operator back in 2017. He reversed his previous denial and said he received €8k and stated he “extremely regrets it.”

Still, he says he never tried to persuade any government agency to favour the Chinese company. Moreover, the Japanese lawmaker assured he’ll give the casino money back.

“It’s a violation of the political funds control law and he should resign,” Japan Innovation Party head Ichiro Matsui said.

Shimoji himself also said he’ll consider whether to resign.

Denied accusations

Representative Hiroyuki Nakamura said: “I accepted a legitimate political donation and included the money in a political funds report,” as quoted by the Jiji Press news agency.

Takeshi Iwaya, former defence minister, also denied accusations against him: “I absolutely deny it (…) From the perspective of laws regulating political funds as well, it’s impossible that I got donations from a foreign firm.”

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