On the 17th, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office’s Special Investigation Department charged the former president with violating the Public Elections Act (bribing, etc.) for offering cash and making offers for the purpose of bribing ward assembly members regarding the April 2023 mayoral election in Koto Ward, Tokyo. Mito Kakizawa (52), a deputy minister of justice and a member of the House of Representatives who left the Liberal Democratic Party, was indicted. Former ward mayor Yayoi Kimura (58) was also indicted on charges of violating the same law for giving 1 million yen in cash to a former ward councilor who was a key member of his own camp as campaign compensation after the election.
◆Many summary indictments against staff from both camps and district councilors
Defendant Mizu Kakizawa ㊧ and Defendant Yayoi Kimura
Kakizawa and Kimura were also charged with violating the same law for posting paid internet video advertisements for approximately 370,000 yen during the election period, calling for votes for Kimura.
According to people involved, Kakizawa has indicated to those around him that he intends to resign as a member of the Diet. When he was first arrested in December of last year, he denied that he intended to pay cash to ward councilors and bribe them, saying it was a “campaign visit” for the ward mayor’s election, which was held at the same time as the ward mayor’s election, but he admitted this year. On the other hand, defendant Kimura reportedly denies any intention to acquire the company.
Kakizawa’s lawyer requested bail on the 17th.
Of the four secretaries arrested along with Kakizawa, the Special Investigations Department filed a summary indictment against policy secretary Masaki Ito (51) and private secretary Shu Goto (38). The Tokyo Summary Court issued a summary order to fine the two men 500,000 yen. Additionally, the Special Investigation Department did not indict the remaining two people who were arrested and another secretary who was investigated at home.
In the crime of being bribed, three ward councilors, Makoto Nishigaki (51), Kazuhiro Yonezawa (64), and Hiroshi Hoshino (75), as well as defendants Kakizawa and Kimura, received a total of approximately 180 million yen from defendants Kakizawa and Kimura, who were accused of receiving cash from defendant Kakizawa. Former ward councilor Michiya Itatsu (54) was indicted at home for allegedly receiving 10,000 yen. A 36-year-old woman who was a staff member of Kimura’s campaign was formally indicted, and two people, including a ward councilor who conducted an investigation at her home, were not indicted.
After serving as a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, Kakizawa ran for office from the then-Minna no Party in 2009 and was elected for the first time. He won the 2021 House of Representatives election as an independent and was additionally endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party. He is currently in his fifth term. He resigned as deputy justice minister in October last year over his involvement in paid advertising.
◆The 3rd ward councilor who was indicted at home insists on his innocence and plans to fight the charges fully.
On the 17th, three Liberal Democratic Party councilors in Koto Ward, who were indicted on charges of violating the Public Elections Act for accepting cash from defendant Mizuo Kakizawa, responded to interviews with this newspaper. In either case, the company asserted that it was a “campaign showdown” during the ward election and had no intention of being taken over, and announced its intention to fight the charges fully. On the same day, the three submitted notifications of leaving the party, which were accepted.
Defendant Makoto Nishigaki (51) posted a comment on his homepage saying, “I accepted this as encouragement for me.I will insist on my innocence and will definitely win acquittal.” He says he will continue his parliamentary activities.
“It looks like I was in a traffic accident,” said Hiroshi Hoshino (75). He said, “If I did something, it would be bribery, but I haven’t done anything (supporting Kimura),” and says he will continue to work as a member of the Diet.
Defendant Kazuhiro Yonezawa (64) expressed his intention to dispute the facts in court, and questioned the district attorney’s decision, saying, “It doesn’t matter.” Regarding the advance and retreat, he said, “Because it’s today, I don’t have a clear head.”
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[Explanation]“Clean ward administration” is covered in vanity when you open the lid
Yayoi Kimura, who was elected for the first time in the April 2023 election for mayor of Tokyo’s Koto Ward, has been indicted on charges including bribery in violation of the Public Elections Act. His “clean ward administration” was revealed to be full of vanity.
Defendant Kimura won the fierce battle for the “Liberal Democratic Party split.” The scene at the election office on the day of vote counting, when the news of the winner was received, left an impression on me. Residents of the ward stood shoulder to shoulder and shed tears. Those who agreed with the defendant’s desire to shine a light on children, women, people with disabilities, and people facing difficulties in life were hoping for “the dawn of a new era.”
That was easily betrayed. After the issue with paid advertisements was discovered, Kimura repeatedly lied at press conferences and in Congress that his supporters had placed the advertisements alone. At his resignation press conference, he also asserted that “no other charges will be brought against him.”
Kimura resigned after six months, and the budget for last December’s election was approximately 200 million yen. If he had been clean, he would also be responsible for imposing unnecessary costs on the residents. Lies are no longer acceptable in a courtroom where the facts are revealed. (Masanori Inoue)
2024-01-17 12:02:00
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