Prosecutors question DPJ lawmaker Kobayashi over fund scandal

SAPPORO, March 13 Kyodo -
Prosecutors questioned ruling Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Chiyomi
Kobayashi on a voluntary basis Saturday in Tokyo in connection with a fund
scandal involving her election campaign, sources familiar with the case said.
During the questioning that lasted about four hours at a hotel, the House of
Representatives member said she did not know about 16 million yen allegedly
provided from a teachers' union to her election office, they said.
The prosecutors on March 1 arrested four people -- three senior members of the
teachers' labor union in Hokkaido and her election office's chief accountant --
on suspicion they provided 16 million yen in illegal donations to her election
office before last August's general election.
The three Hokkaido Teachers Union officials are suspected of donating a total
of 16 million yen over four occasions between December 2008 and July 2009 for
Kobayashi's campaign in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.
The fourth person arrested is suspected of receiving the sum as chief
accountant for the campaign.
Donations to individual politicians from businesses and entities are prohibited
under the law except via officially registered funding organizations.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Saturday he believes the prosecutors will
clarify the truth surrounding the allegations. Whether Kobayashi should step
down as a lawmaker to take responsibility for the case ''is something she
should decide,'' the premier told reporters in Nara City.
Kobayashi was elected to her second lower house term in the Hokkaido No. 5
constituency.
==Kyodo