Reform minister resigns over fund scandal

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Reform minister resigns over fund scandal

Administrative Reform Minister Sata Gen'ichiro on December 27 resigned after admitting that his political organization had engaged in improper accounting procedures.

Following former Tax Commission Chair Honma Masaaki, Sata became the second official appointed by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to resign from office.

Sata's political organization reportedly submitted from 1990 to 2000 falsified funding reports that included expenditures of about 78 million yen allegedly used for the operation of a fictitious office.

While admitting that the accounting was "inappropriate," Sata failed to explain what the expenditures had actually been used for. He also said that he is not considering resigning his seat as a Dietmember.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi at a press conference on the same day said, "[Sata's] resignation is matter of course but this does not end the issue. Details of the expenditure need to be revealed in the Diet."

"Prime Minister Abe Shinzo bears a grave responsibility for appointing such a person as minister," said Ichida.
- Akahata, December 28, 2006