Investigation on Former Minister

Special Investigation Department of Tokyo Regional Prosecutors Office embarked on a compulsory investigation for money scandal of former Minister for Economic Revitalization, Akira Amari. The investigators have made searches in a constructor’s office and a public developer, and interviewed to the secretary of Amari over transfer of money related to business contract. The scandal may lead to a drop out of one of the closest ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The constructor that is doubted to have given money to a secretary of Amari is Satsuma Kogyo in Shirai City, Chiba. According to Asahi Shimbun, Satsuma Kogyo has been asking the secretary of Amari since 2013, with expectation of exercising political influence of Amari, bridging a business with Urban Renaissance Agency (UR), a public sector for developing cities. Satsuma Kogyo had a trouble with UR over road construction in Chiba New Town.

After a deal of compensation from UR to Satsuma Kogyo with ¥220 million, Satsuma Kogyo handed the secretary ¥5 million in cash on August 20^th, 2013. Satsuma also gave Amari ¥500 thousand at minister’s office on November 14^th, 2013, and another ¥500 thousand at Amari’s private office in Yamato City, Kanagawa, on February 1^st, 2014. Amari admitted that he and his secretary received the money amounting ¥6 million.

Satsuma Kogyo has explained that the money was a reward for the involvement of Amari and successful deal of the compensation. If the relationship between involvement and reward actually existed, it violates Mediation Remuneration Prohibiting Law.

Amari argues that the money he received was recognized as a donation for his political activities, not the return for any of his political activities, and asserts that he ordered his secretary to handle the money according to regulative legislation. The secretary is said to have explained to his lawyer that he was not involved in the deal over compensation.

When a politician received money, he/she needs to right it down on a balance sheet for reporting political money. While ¥2 million out of ¥5 million in August, 2013, was correctly recorded, ¥3 million was regarded as privately consumed by the secretary. Two offers of ¥500 thousand each direct to Amari was recorded as wrapping up as one donation of ¥1 million. The office work cannot be correct.

Amari has already stepped down as Minister dealing with Trans-Pacific Partnership. But, he has been one of the most relied Ministers by Abe, paralleled with Yoshihide Suga and Taro Aso. Amari’s drop out may indicate decline of political resource of the Prime Minister.