ID :
122322
Sat, 05/15/2010 - 23:05
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/122322
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Prosecutors question Ozawa over political fund reports
TOKYO, May 15 Kyodo -
Prosecutors questioned Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa
on Saturday after an independent judicial panel decided last month that he
merits indictment over his fund management body's alleged false reporting of
political funds.
Following the third round of questioning over the fund reports at a Tokyo
hotel, Ozawa said in a written comment, ''I straightforwardly explained the
truth, based on my recollection.'' He completely denied his involvement during
the questioning, according to sources close to him.
He also said the questioning was conducted from 5 p.m. to around 9:30 p.m.
The latest action followed an April 27 decision by the panel, the Tokyo No. 5
Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution, which opened the way for the Tokyo
District Public Prosecutors Office to reinvestigate the case.
In February, the prosecutors office decided not to charge Ozawa, citing a lack
of evidence after questioning him on Jan. 23 and 31.
The inquest panel will revisit the case, which involves a land purchase in
Tokyo, if the prosecutors decide again not to file charges against Ozawa or
fail to come to a decision within three months.
If the panel decides again in favor of indictment, a team of court-appointed
lawyers will act as prosecutors and file criminal charges against Ozawa,
according to the inquest of prosecution law.
The sources said the prosecutors are expected to decide whether to indict him
by the end of this month.
Former DPJ head Ozawa who now occupies the party's No. 2 post is regarded as
the most powerful figure in the ruling DPJ, which is headed by party president
and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
In relation to the misreporting by Ozawa's Rikuzankai fund management body,
prosecutors indicted then DPJ House of Representatives member Tomohiro
Ishikawa, a former secretary of Ozawa, for violating the political funds
control law. Ishikawa left the party after being indicted.
The prosecutors also charged Takanori Okubo, a former state-financed secretary
to Ozawa, and Mitsutomo Ikeda, another former secretary of Ozawa.
The prosecutors also plan to question the three again.
==Kyodo
Prosecutors questioned Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa
on Saturday after an independent judicial panel decided last month that he
merits indictment over his fund management body's alleged false reporting of
political funds.
Following the third round of questioning over the fund reports at a Tokyo
hotel, Ozawa said in a written comment, ''I straightforwardly explained the
truth, based on my recollection.'' He completely denied his involvement during
the questioning, according to sources close to him.
He also said the questioning was conducted from 5 p.m. to around 9:30 p.m.
The latest action followed an April 27 decision by the panel, the Tokyo No. 5
Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution, which opened the way for the Tokyo
District Public Prosecutors Office to reinvestigate the case.
In February, the prosecutors office decided not to charge Ozawa, citing a lack
of evidence after questioning him on Jan. 23 and 31.
The inquest panel will revisit the case, which involves a land purchase in
Tokyo, if the prosecutors decide again not to file charges against Ozawa or
fail to come to a decision within three months.
If the panel decides again in favor of indictment, a team of court-appointed
lawyers will act as prosecutors and file criminal charges against Ozawa,
according to the inquest of prosecution law.
The sources said the prosecutors are expected to decide whether to indict him
by the end of this month.
Former DPJ head Ozawa who now occupies the party's No. 2 post is regarded as
the most powerful figure in the ruling DPJ, which is headed by party president
and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
In relation to the misreporting by Ozawa's Rikuzankai fund management body,
prosecutors indicted then DPJ House of Representatives member Tomohiro
Ishikawa, a former secretary of Ozawa, for violating the political funds
control law. Ishikawa left the party after being indicted.
The prosecutors also charged Takanori Okubo, a former state-financed secretary
to Ozawa, and Mitsutomo Ikeda, another former secretary of Ozawa.
The prosecutors also plan to question the three again.
==Kyodo
