Former prime minister Shinzo Abe apologised after prosecutors declined to indict him for illegal payments his office made involving dinner receptions for his supporters during Japan’s popular cherry blossom season.
When Mr Abe resigned in September, he cited ill health but critics have suggested the scandal might have been a reason.
His successor, Yoshihide Suga, scrapped the annual cherry blossom viewing party the day he took office, but his government has seen its public support plunge due to delayed coronavirus measures and a spate of scandals involving Mr Abe’s former ministers.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office cited lack of evidence in deciding not to press charges against Mr Abe.
Hiromu Kurokawa, the chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, heads to his Tokyo residence in May. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
A prosecution inquest panel has ruled that a former top prosecutor close to the previous administration should have been indicted for gambling on mah-jongg, prompting the case to be reopened.
Hiromu Kurokawa, 63, the chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, resigned in May after reports surfaced that he regularly played mah-jongg for money along with three others working for newspapers, including an employee of The Asahi Shimbun.
One game took place while a state of emergency was declared for the COVID-19 pandemic. Most forms of gambling are illegal in Japan.
Former prime minister Shinzo Abe apologised after prosecutors declined to indict him for illegal payments his office made involving dinner receptions for his supporters during Japan’s popular cherry blossom season.
When Mr Abe resigned in September, he cited ill health but critics have suggested the scandal might have been a reason.
His successor, Yoshihide Suga, scrapped the annual cherry blossom viewing party the day he took office, but his government has seen its public support plunge due to delayed coronavirus measures and a spate of scandals involving Mr Abe’s former ministers.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office cited lack of evidence in deciding not to press charges against Mr Abe.
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