JCP poses questions about suspicion of farm minister's bribe-taking

In the October 24 House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting, Sasaki Kensho of the Japanese Communist Party asked questions about the bribe-taking allegation involving a former secretary to Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Oshima Tadamori. The issue was whether the political donations the minister received from construction companies were kickbacks for his political influence.

Sasaki revealed that Oshima received about 19 million yen as donations over three years since 1995 from 18 construction companies which contracted to build Hachinohe City's public hospital in Aomori Prefecture in Oshima's constituency.

The amount of the donations in 1996, just after the companies had their tenders accepted, was ten times that of 1995.

Pointing out that Miyauchi Hiroshi, Oshima's former secretary, has admitted that he gave support to the companies but denied acceptance of reward, Sasaki asked Oshima if he himself received compensation in the form of political donations.

Oshima said that the donations were properly put into his office account in compliance with the relevant law.

Reminding him that House of Representatives Member Suzuki Muneo was arrested and prosecuted because the money he received as donations based on the Political Funds Control Law were recognized as bribes, Sasaki demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.

He insisted that the Diet summon Miyauchi and the executive of a consulting company which is said to act as a mediator between Miyauchi and construction companies as unsworn witnesses. (end)