More communications ministry officials have been found to have been treated to expensive meals by a son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the ministry said Monday, further widening the scandal that has already brought four senior bureaucrats under scrutiny.
The communications ministry said it has replaced two bureaucrats and is considering reprimands following reports that its officials were treated to dinners by a son of the prime minister.
Senior Japan bureaucrats ousted amid scandal over dinners with PM s son
Japan s communications ministry said Friday it has replaced two senior bureaucrats and is considering reprimands following reports that its officials were treated to expensive dinners by a son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in possible violation of ethics code.
Communications minister Ryota Takeda denied the scandal was the reason for the transfers of Yoshinori Akimoto, director general of the information and communications bureau, and Hironobu Yumoto, deputy director general of the bureau, but said it was decided in light of various situations during an ongoing Diet session. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in Tokyo on Feb. 17, 2021. (Kyodo)
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Tokyo, Feb. 16 (Jiji Press) Japan’s communications minister Ryota Takeda said Tuesday that his ministry will swiftly punish senior officials if they are found to have been entertained by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s eldest son and other people in the broadcasting industry.
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry “will complete its investigation into the scandal as soon as possible, punish officials involved and disclose the results of the probe,” Takeda said at a plenary session of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the country’s parliament.
The four senior officials in question are Vice Ministers for Policy Coordination Yasuhiko Taniwaki and Mabito Yoshida, Information and Communications Bureau Director-General Yoshinori Akimoto and the same bureau’s Deputy Director-General Hironobu Yumoto.