Off the wire
• East Africa's bloc backs UN anti-extremism efforts  • Vietnamese communist party's 12th national congress wraps up preparatory session  • China's economic slowdown will not affect Africa's growth: expert  • 2nd LD Writethru: 8 killed in car bomb near Russian Embassy in Kabul  • Liaoning score big win to take runners-up spot at CBA league  • Russian ruble drops to record low amid plummeting oil prices  • Chinese police seize 78 suspects, save 15 infants in trafficking bust  • Singapore's Muslim leaders denounce extremism after 27 arrested for extremist activities  • Five S. African children suffocated to death in disused freezer  • AU convoy repulses Al-Shabaab attack in Somalia  
You are here: 　 Home

Japan's economy minister embroiled in bribery scandal, vows to ensure accountability

Xinhua, January 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Japan's Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Akira Amari following allegations he received bribes from a construction company, said Wednesday he will try to fulfill his duty to ensure his accountability.

Amari, a top negotiator in the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries, told a news conference Wednesday that he intends to investigate the matter and fulfill his duty to ensure accountability so he will not arouse public suspicion.

The senior politician and close ally of ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, hand-picked for Abes cabinet, told reporters he has not consulted with Abe over his possible resignation over the allegations.

According to the Kyodo News Agency, an article incriminating Amari will appear in the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine on Thursday. The article will purportedly show that Amari and his staff received cash and were entertained over the past three years with the money involved totaling 12 million yen (103,000 U.S. dollars).

The article will directly quote an official from a construction company in Chiba Prefecture about the allegations Amari accepted cash and was treated to nights out in return for giving the firm preferential treatment and special "favors."

The construction company, for example, had asked for Amaris help in dealing with compensation issues pertaining to a road project, the magazine article will reportedly state, as well as claiming that Amari last November received an envelop containing 500,000 yen in cash in return for favors.

There are no details of the payments in Amaris political funding record, the article will state, in breach of political funds laws in Japan.

Japans public broadcaster NHK has also said that an anonymous source from the construction company has verified the article that will hit stands around the nation Thursday.

Amari, as well as saying he has yet to read the article, has stated in light of the allegations, he still plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland later this week. But the scandal will deal a fresh blow to Abe, who has since retaking office in December 2012, lost three of his ministers following such high-profile funding scandals. Endit