Ex-Japan trade minister questioned over gift scandal as probe resumes
April 23, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Isshu Sugawara. (Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prosecutors have questioned a former Japanese trade minister over a money and gift scandal after they resumed their investigation into the case following a civil inquest body's decision in February that he merits indictment, sources close to the matter said Friday.
The office of the former minister Isshu Sugawara is alleged to have offered money and gifts to supporters between 2017 and 2019 in violation of the election law.
Prosecutors have questioned him and his former aides on a voluntary basis as they also suspect the Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker has offered cash to voters in his Tokyo constituency since 2018, the sources said.