1.5-M.-Yen Fine Sought for Ex-Lawmaker Ono over Funds Scandal

Tokyo, March 26 (Jiji Press)--Japanese public prosecutors on Thursday sought a fine of 1.5 million yen for former Japanese lawmaker Yasutada Ono for allegedly failing to record a portion of revenue in political funds reports in a high-profile "slush funds" scandal involving factions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

In the trial at Tokyo District Court, prosecutors also sought a fine of 500,000 yen for Ono's former policy secretary Yoshiko Iwata.

The defendants' acts helped increase public distrust of politics and therefore were malicious, the prosecution said. In contrast, Ono, 66, and Iwata, 62, claimed again that they are not guilty. The court will hand down a ruling on June 23.

Prosecutors argued that Ono, a former member of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, and Iwata had no books or dedicated bank accounts to manage kickbacks from party ticket sales revenues that exceeded the quota, and that they recognized the funds as a donation to the "Taishikai" fund management organization.

The prosecution also said that they failed to inform staff members of Ono's office of the receipt of the kickbacks and had them submit false income and expenditure reports, adding that it is clear the action violated the political funds control law.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]