Prosecutors search the home of the secretary of a ruling party lawmaker amid allegations that the politician paid money to local assembly members in return for supporting a candidate he backed in a Tokyo ward mayoral election.
HIROSHIMA Twenty-five former local politicians and political operatives indicted in a bribery scandal that led to the conviction of a former justice minister received summary court orders to pay fines ranging from 4 million yen ($33,000) to 200,000 yen.
In July 2021, prosecutors dropped the bribery case against all 100 individuals. But they overturned the decision after an inquest panel said new indictments were necessary.