Japan prosecutors to investigate ruling party heavyweights over fund raising: Report

TOKYO – Japanese prosecutors will start investigating several dozen ruling party lawmakers, including current ministers, next week over unreported fund raising of more than 100 million yen (S$920,000), the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Dec 7.

The scandal within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is

another blow for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s unpopular administration,

which has seen its ratings sink below 30 per cent in recent polls.

A spokesperson at the Tokyo Public Prosecutors Office said the office was unable to answer questions on matters currently under investigation and declined further comment.

The probe focuses on funds raised by the biggest faction in the LDP, which was once led by late former prime minister Shinzo Abe, the Yomiuri said.

Both Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno had overseen the faction’s bookkeeping in the past five years, the newspaper added.

Mr Nishimura and Mr Matsuno have in recent days declined to comment on allegations of improper fund raising.

The LDP’s Secretary-general Toshimitsu Motegi said this week that the leaders of the party’s factions have been told to scrutinise their funding reports and make corrections if necessary.

Prosecutors plan to begin their questioning after the current session of Parliament ends on Dec 13, the Yomiuri said. REUTERS