Japan Dental Association's political arm is suspected of falsifying reports: JCP

A suspicion has arisen that the Japan Dentists Federation (Japan Dental Association's political action organization),the biggest donor to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, had falsified its political funds report.

The JDF report for 2002 stated that it expended 454 million yen in grants to its prefectural branches, while the corresponding recipients record the entry of 315 million yen, with about 140 million yen missing.

This revelation was made by Japanese Communist Party representative Sasaki Kensho in the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on February 12.

Sasaki raised the suspicion that the JDF falsified its political funds report. Justice Ministry Political Affairs Bureau Director Hiwatari Toshiaki said that the ministry will duly deal with the matter if it turns out to be criminal.

Sasaki also revealed that the Japan Dental Association, the Japan Dentists Federation, and the LDP dental branch work together in every prefecture, sharing the same representative, treasurer, and office address.

Dentists who start practice are asked to join the JDA, which automatically make them JDF members. The JDF collects 1.8 billion yen in member fees a year.

Sasaki urged the prime minister that the state of affairs in which the LDP uses professional organizations as tools to collect funds for election campaigns be corrected.

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro said, "Not being a JDF member, I don't know anything about it." (end)