ID :
155164
Wed, 12/29/2010 - 05:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/155164
The shortlink copeid
Fishery firm heads quizzed over alleged bribery of Russian officials+
TOKYO, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
The Fisheries Agency questioned the presidents of four fishery firms Tuesday
over allegations they provided money to Russian government officials so they
could catch more than their allocated quotas in waters designated as being in
Russia's exclusive economic zone, agency officials said.
The companies -- Hokkaido-based Wakkanai Kaiyo and Kanai Gyogyo, Kaiyo Gyogyo
of Aomori Prefecture and Sato Gyogyo of Miyagi Prefecture -- are suspected of
giving a total of 500 million yen to the Russians over the three years up to
2009 for tacit approval from the Russian authorities for walleye pollack
catches exceeding the designated quotas under a bilateral agreement.
If the allegations are true, it means the firms have violated the fisheries law
and could face severe penalties, such as having their fishery licenses revoked,
the officials said. The presidents were questioned by the fisheries agency on a
voluntary basis.
Allegations have also emerged that other fisheries firms have been providing
money to Russian authorities in connection with salmon and saury catches,
prompting the agency to start looking into the matter at the beginning of next
year, agency sources said.
The agency did not disclose information about Tuesday's questioning. It is
expected to resume questioning of the four companies in January while also
planning to launch investigations into the suspected cases of bribery in salmon
and saury fishing, the sources said.
The allegations over the four companies surfaced during investigations by
regional taxation bureaus. National tax authorities have determined that they
concealed income and ordered them to pay about 200 million yen, including back
taxes.
Michihiko Kano, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, said at a
press conference earlier Tuesday the ministry intends to gather all the facts
before considering asking Russia to investigate the matter.
In Hokkaido, some people familiar with the practices in the fishing area in
question say bribery is common.
A person involved in salmon fishing off Hokkaido, who declined to be
identified, said some fishermen regularly carried about $10,000 each when they
left their ports and gave the money to Russian officials if necessary up until
five years ago.
''It is hard for us to make profits only with the fishing quotas set by the
governments given that we have to pay a lot of money,'' the person said,
referring to so-called ''cooperation money'' charged on Japanese fishermen for
operating in the Russian EEZ.
He added the cash was prepared also in case of the possibility that bribery is
necessary for onboard inspections by Russian patrol boats.
Another person with knowledge of the fishing situation around the islands
disputed between the two countries said there used to be a Russian official who
demanded money from Japanese fishing boat crews.
''One official had fishermen send cash to a bank account in Japan, and I guess
it added up eventually to tens of millions of yen,'' he said.
A seafood-processing industry official in eastern Hokkaido said offering cash
to the Russians is ''everyday affairs,'' while describing the act as a
''necessary evil.''
He said the form of bribery has changed from food to electric appliances and
then to computer-related products, noting that cash is at the center of it in
recent years ''probably because the quality of life for Russians has
improved.''
In Russia, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper linked the alleged bribery to a
recent visit to two of the disputed islands by Russian First Deputy Prime
Minister Igor Shuvalov in its Tuesday edition.
The paper quoted a Russian expert on Japan affairs as saying that it is
possible that the allegation is some kind of diplomatic signal Tokyo is sending
in relation to Shuvalov's tour of Kunashiri and Etorofu islands on Dec. 13.
Shuvalov's trip followed a Nov. 1 visit to Kunashiri by Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev, which made him the first leader from Russia or the former
Soviet Union to set foot on any of the islands.
The islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group were
seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II and are
known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern
Kurils. The territorial dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a
postwar peace treaty.
==Kyodo
The Fisheries Agency questioned the presidents of four fishery firms Tuesday
over allegations they provided money to Russian government officials so they
could catch more than their allocated quotas in waters designated as being in
Russia's exclusive economic zone, agency officials said.
The companies -- Hokkaido-based Wakkanai Kaiyo and Kanai Gyogyo, Kaiyo Gyogyo
of Aomori Prefecture and Sato Gyogyo of Miyagi Prefecture -- are suspected of
giving a total of 500 million yen to the Russians over the three years up to
2009 for tacit approval from the Russian authorities for walleye pollack
catches exceeding the designated quotas under a bilateral agreement.
If the allegations are true, it means the firms have violated the fisheries law
and could face severe penalties, such as having their fishery licenses revoked,
the officials said. The presidents were questioned by the fisheries agency on a
voluntary basis.
Allegations have also emerged that other fisheries firms have been providing
money to Russian authorities in connection with salmon and saury catches,
prompting the agency to start looking into the matter at the beginning of next
year, agency sources said.
The agency did not disclose information about Tuesday's questioning. It is
expected to resume questioning of the four companies in January while also
planning to launch investigations into the suspected cases of bribery in salmon
and saury fishing, the sources said.
The allegations over the four companies surfaced during investigations by
regional taxation bureaus. National tax authorities have determined that they
concealed income and ordered them to pay about 200 million yen, including back
taxes.
Michihiko Kano, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, said at a
press conference earlier Tuesday the ministry intends to gather all the facts
before considering asking Russia to investigate the matter.
In Hokkaido, some people familiar with the practices in the fishing area in
question say bribery is common.
A person involved in salmon fishing off Hokkaido, who declined to be
identified, said some fishermen regularly carried about $10,000 each when they
left their ports and gave the money to Russian officials if necessary up until
five years ago.
''It is hard for us to make profits only with the fishing quotas set by the
governments given that we have to pay a lot of money,'' the person said,
referring to so-called ''cooperation money'' charged on Japanese fishermen for
operating in the Russian EEZ.
He added the cash was prepared also in case of the possibility that bribery is
necessary for onboard inspections by Russian patrol boats.
Another person with knowledge of the fishing situation around the islands
disputed between the two countries said there used to be a Russian official who
demanded money from Japanese fishing boat crews.
''One official had fishermen send cash to a bank account in Japan, and I guess
it added up eventually to tens of millions of yen,'' he said.
A seafood-processing industry official in eastern Hokkaido said offering cash
to the Russians is ''everyday affairs,'' while describing the act as a
''necessary evil.''
He said the form of bribery has changed from food to electric appliances and
then to computer-related products, noting that cash is at the center of it in
recent years ''probably because the quality of life for Russians has
improved.''
In Russia, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper linked the alleged bribery to a
recent visit to two of the disputed islands by Russian First Deputy Prime
Minister Igor Shuvalov in its Tuesday edition.
The paper quoted a Russian expert on Japan affairs as saying that it is
possible that the allegation is some kind of diplomatic signal Tokyo is sending
in relation to Shuvalov's tour of Kunashiri and Etorofu islands on Dec. 13.
Shuvalov's trip followed a Nov. 1 visit to Kunashiri by Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev, which made him the first leader from Russia or the former
Soviet Union to set foot on any of the islands.
The islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group were
seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II and are
known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern
Kurils. The territorial dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a
postwar peace treaty.
==Kyodo
