TOKYO Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized Thursday 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 Abe resigned in September, he cited ill health but critics have suggested the scandal might have been a reason. His successor, […]
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.
Ex-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe apologises AP
Tokyo: Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologised Thursday 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 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 Abe’s former ministers.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office cited lack of evidence in deciding not to press charges against Abe. But it formally indicted a longtime aide who allegedly failed to report fees and payments for the receptions from 2016 to 2019.
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Tokyo, Dec. 24 (Jiji Press) A panel of citizens has ruled that Hiromu Kurokawa, former chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, should be indicted over the gambling scandal he was embroiled in, meaning that he will be reinvestigated.
The Tokyo No. 6 Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution concluded that Kurokawa, 63, should face trial because in his position he was meant to stop such illegal acts, and the influence of his involvement in mahjong for money on society is big. The ruling was issued on Dec. 8.
Following the panel s ruling, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office will reinvestigate the case and make a decision again on whether to charge Kurokawa. In July, the office decided not to indict Kurokawa.