DPJ lawmaker arrested in connection with Ozawa’s scandal

Japan Press Weekly

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

DPJ lawmaker arrested in connection with Ozawa’s scandal

The Tokyo District Prosecutor’s Office on January 15 arrested Democratic Party of Japan member of the House of Representatives Ishikawa Tomohiro for allegedly violating the Political Funds Control Law in connection with the land purchase of Rikuzankai, DPJ Secretary General Ozawa’s fund managing body.

An official said that Ishikawa is suspected of intentionally failing to include in Rikuzankai’s political funds report 400 million yen in income which was used to purchase land in Tokyo on October 29, 2004.

Later in the same day, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi issued the following statement:

Because Ishikawa was in charge of clerical work of Rikuzankai, if he is found to be involved in Rikuzankai’s violation of the Political Funds Control Law, he should be arrested.

It is the judicial authority’s responsibility to investigate Ozawa’s involvement in his fund managing organization’s illegal acts and cover-ups. I call for a thoroughgoing investigation.

It is unprecedented that the prosecutor’s office requested the ruling party’s secretary general to appear for questioning. The issue is not only the unreported political funds but also the source of these funds, because there is another allegation that those funds were provided by general contractor construction companies. It is necessary to determine Ozawa’s liability and ascertain his political and moral responsibility. The JCP has urged the DPJ to take self-cleansing actions. Now, we also call on the Diet to take the necessary actions to clarify the issue.

We also demand abolition of corporate and organizational donations, the underlying cause of the scandal.

- Akahata, January 16, 2010