Nikai's aides not prosecuted over Nishimatsu scandal

Japan Press Weekly

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

Nikai's aides not prosecuted over Nishimatsu scandal

The Tokyo Public Prosecutors Office on June 1 dropped charges against aides of Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Nikai Toshihiro (Liberal Democratic Party), who had been suspected of being involved in accepting illegal donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co.

Nikai's chief accountant and his another aide in charge had been accused of violating the Political Funds Control Law for accepting donations either in cash or in the form of payments of fees for fundraisers from the constructor using two fictitious political action groups as conduits.

The prosecutors, however, concluded that evidence is insufficient to support the allegations, saying, "They were apparently unaware that the donations were from Nishimatsu Construction."

This is an extremely unjust decision.

When the prosecutors indicted a chief secretary to former Democratic Party President Ozawa Ichiro, they said that the conduct of receiving political donations from Nishimatsu Construction using fictitious political action groups was in violation of the Political Funds Control Law. Nikai's case is the same as this.

In addition, Nishimatsu Construction itself has admitted that its political action groups were fictitious ones established only for the purpose of making donations to politicians' political action groups. Of course, Nikai must have also known this.

Yet, Nikai has not given the public convincing explanations about his allegation. The case dismissal does not mean that he succeeded in clearing the suspicion against himself.

- Akahata June 2, 2009