Japan lawmaker faces four years in prison over bribes from China gambling operator

Lower House lawmakerTsukasa Akimoto was sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday after a Tokyo court found him guilty of taking bribes from a gambling company.

The Tokyo District found the former vice-minister in charge of tourism and casino promotions guilty of taking $69,000 in bribes from a Chinese gambling operator that intended to start a casino business in Japan. Akimoto was also fined the amount in bribes he received. 

The courts’ decision comes as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that he will not seek another term, paving the way for a new party leader two months before the parliamentary elections. Suga faces criticism for his government’s coronavirus policies, and hosting the Olympics despite widespread health concerns. 

Akimoto, who remains a member of the Lower House but has left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was also found guilty of offering bribes to his former advisors to give false testimony in court to cover up his crime.

Three other former ministers and a lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have been found guilty in separate bribery and election fraud cases over the past few years. 

The former vice-minister pleaded not guilty of any charges in his trial. Prosecutors alleged that Akimoto accepted the bribes in 2017-2018, including $27,000 in cash and other gifts from the Chinese company in return for his support.

Judge Toshihiko Niwa said in his ruling that Akimoto’s obstruction of legal proceedings by bribing witnesses showed his “complete lack of compliance with the court”, as reported by NHK public television. 

Akimoto was released on bail and will have to return to jail following the sentence. His former aide, Akihiro Toyoshima, received a suspended prison term.