Dentsu, Others Face Criminal Complaint over Games Bid-Rigging

Tokyo, Feb. 28 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Fair Trade Commission filed a criminal complaint against advertising agency Dentsu Group Inc. <4324> and five other companies Tuesday over alleged bid-rigging linked to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

The targets of the measure also included Yasuo Mori, 56, a former senior official of the Tokyo Games organizing committee, Koji Henmi, 55, former assistant head of the sports department of Dentsu Inc., a Dentsu Group unit, and five other people.

The antitrust watchdog took action in a bid-rigging case led by the advertising industry for the first time.

The six companies and seven people were allegedly involved in bid-rigging for contracts related to Tokyo Games venue management.

Related orders received by the six companies in question, also including Hakuhodo Inc., are believed to have totaled 43.7 billion yen.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]