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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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe answers questions in the Diet in March. | KYODO
Kyodo, staff report Dec 24, 2020
Prosecutors said Thursday they have decided not to indict former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over allegations his camp illegally paid millions of yen for dinner receptions held for supporters, ending their investigation into a scandal that came to light last year.
They instead issued a summary indictment to one of Abe’s state-paid secretaries, Hiroyuki Haikawa, 61, seeking a fine for his alleged failure to keep some financial records related to the dinner functions as required by law.
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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Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe May be Summoned to Parliament in Election Funding Case: Sources
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference at the prime minister s official residence in Tokyo, Japan, August 28, 2020. Franck Robichon/Pool via REUTERS
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may be summoned to parliament for questioning by lawmakers amid a row over a possible violation of election funding laws, several government and ruling party sources told Reuters on Thursday.
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Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may be summoned to parliament for questioning by lawmakers amid a row over a possible violation of election funding laws, several government and ruling party sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Source: Xinhua|
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VIENTIANE Laos needs to strengthen capacity building in order to further cooperate with other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, particularly in the socio-cultural field, Lao Deputy Culture Minister Savankhone Razmountry has said.
He made the remarks at a meeting to review the achievements made in activities of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The meeting was attended by representatives from various ministries and organizations, the local daily Vientiane Times reported on Thursday. (Laos-ASEAN-Cooperation)
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TOKYO Japanese prosecutors on Thursday said they had decided not to indict former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over allegations his support group failed to report spending related to annual parties thrown for Abe s supporters at Tokyo hotels in its political fund reports.