Japanese MP’s Involved in Huge Chinese Corruption Scandal
Japanese lawmakers have been found guilty of corruption and bribery charges connected to Chinese gambling companies and other Beijing-based businesses. Japanese police monitored numerous political figures for months and have uncovered an extensive network of corruption and bribery. Several Chinese companies have been identified, including one of the country’s largest online betting platforms. The company’s identity is still unknown. Newscasters have described it as one of the biggest government scandals since the turn of the millennium, and there’s been a fittingly negative response from the Japanese public.
Japanese government officials are under suspicion after one minister was sentenced to over four years in jail along with a 7.5 million yen fine, equating to roughly $70,000. A project relating to the construction of casino resorts is now under thorough investigation by Tokyo police to uncover any potential perpetrators. ©Philippsaal/Pixabay
A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, Tsukasa Akimoto, was found guilty of accepting bribes worth over 8 million yen. Between five months, from September 2017 to February 2018, Akimoto held extensive talks with Chinese casino companies. Later, police discovered several cases of fraudulent activity and the bribery of a government official. Yesterday he was officially sentenced to 4 years in jail after serving two months in police custody. He was denied bail upon his arrest.
The unnamed Chinese operator was in talks to establish a new casino resort on the edge of Tokyo. Still, once police discovered their connection to crime syndicates in Beijing, the whole ordeal was called off while an investigation was underway. While other Chinese companies have casinos in Japan and other Asian countries, it’s uncommon for international firms to establish themselves in Japan due to strict globalization laws, and a patriotic priority for national business.
Akimoto is also guilty of offering money to two advisors of the Chinese online lottery platform, 500.com. He showed them cash so they could provide false testimonials in a Japanese court to swing the case in his favor. Obviously, this was unsuccessful, as police seized all his electronics and combed his messages and emails for any information relating to his situation. The Japanese government recently passed a motion to integrate all casino resorts to bolster their tourism industry; Akimoto was likely deeply ingrained in the process to see it ordained.
This case has fascinated many due to the unprecedented sentencing; Tsukasa Akimoto is the first government official to receive a prison sentence without any suspension factors. He will serve a minimum of three years. Whether he is granted parole will depend on how he handles his sentence and how structured the fine repayments are. Almost all of the money he received through corruption will eventually be paid back to the Japanese government. If not, Akimoto is liable to further fines and prison time.
Akimoto’s Claim of Innocence Swiftly Dismissed by Judge
Despite attempts to provide false testimonials, every witness called to trial was strongly supported by pre-existing evidence, validating their claims, and evaporating Akimoto’s façade of innocence. Judge Toshihiko proved to be Akimoto’s mortal enemy as he dispensed a number of scathing testimonials to clarify the seriousness of the case at hand. The judge also expressed his severe disappointment with the government official, stating that his actions reflect on the rest of the organization and should be deeply ashamed of himself.
Akimoto wasn’t the only one charged in yesterday’s court session. His secretary Akihiro Toyoshima was also convicted of facilitating corruption; they were widely believed to be deeply involved in Akimoto’s illegal affairs. He managed to compromise several other government officials by including them in his testimonial, naming and shaming several political figures who are connected to the ongoing case. Having pleaded not guilty, he shot himself in the foot regarding his court case, as new evidence was revealed shortly after.
Tsukasa Akimoto oversaw numerous important operations connected to foreign casino industries, including regulating gambling aspects related to the Tokyo Olympics in the summer. He was arrested midway through the competition. Akimoto maintains his innocence despite the overwhelming evidence and sentencing. His lawyers are mounting an official appeal to an independent judiciary; he’s even stated that he will stand in the next lower house election despite his current circumstances.
