Suzuki also meddled in Defense Agency

A Liberal Democratic Party member of parliament who is accused of interfering with Foreign Ministry affairs, including Russia-held "Four Northern Islands" aid projects, is alleged to have meddled in the Defense Agency over the selection of logistics suppliers.

The allegation about LDP lawmaker Suzuki Muneo was made during the Lower House Budget Committee meeting on March 6 by Sasaki Kensho of the Japanese Communist Party.

Sasaki revealed a Defense Facilities Administration Agency internal document which shows that Suzuki, deputy chief cabinet secretary at the time, had the DFAA brief him on details about contractor suppliers of logistics for the live-fire exercises held by U.S. Marines in Hokkaido. Apparently, Suzuki sought to wield influence on the selection of contractors, including those for lodgings, garbage bins, and toilet rolls.

The live-fire exercises were held in 1998 by Okinawa-based U.S. Marines on the Self-Defense Forces Yausubetsu training ground in Hokkaido.

JCP Sasaki further revealed that Suzuki received 2.07 million yen (about 16,000 dollars) in donations from three contractor companies over three years. Sasaki denounced it as an abuse of tax money.

Commenting on this new allegation at a news conference on the same day, JCP Secretariat Head Shii Kazuo said that Suzuki meddled not only in the Foreign Ministry but other ministries and agencies.

Shii demanded that the prime minister take the responsibility to investigate and report the findings to the Diet. (end)