Japan Press Weekly

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2021 September 8 - 14 [POLITICS]

Sitting Dietmember sentenced to 4-year imprisonment for accepting bribes related to casino development

The Tokyo District Court on September 7 sentenced Akimoto Tsukasa, a House of Representatives member and a former senior vice minister of the Cabinet Office, to four years in prison for receiving bribes over casino-centric integrated resorts (IR).

This is the first time in 17 years, after House of Councilors lawmaker Suzuki Muneo, for a sitting Dietmember to receive a jail sentence without suspension for bribery.

Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji at a press conference held on the same day in the Diet building said, "Akimoto should resign his Lower House seat. The Diet must uncover the whole truth behind the scandal and it will be inevitable for the Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Ishin-no-Kai parties to be held responsible for promoting casino-centric IR projects in Japan.

Kokuta pointed out that the casino development topic had first come up in talks between former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and former U.S. President Donald Trump, and that huge amounts of money from business interests started to filter into political circles which led to the bribery case.

He added, "The forthcoming general election will be an opportunity to strike a blow to the LDP, the Komei party, and the Ishi-no-Kai party."

Past related article:
> JCP Koike: Money scandal-tainted lawmaker Akimoto should immediately step down [August 25, 2020]