Hatoyama`s ex-aides charged over falsification, premier exempted+

TOKYO, Dec. 24 Kyodo -
Prosecutors indicted two of the former secretaries of Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama without arrest Thursday over falsified fund reports in violation of
the political funds control law, while exempting the premier from the charges
due to insufficient evidence of involvement.
Former Secretary Keiji Katsuba, 59, was indicted on a charge of falsifying the
premier's funding reports for five years through last year, while Daisuke Haga,
55, another former secretary who also served as the chief accountant for
Hatoyama's political funds, was indicted on a charge of gross negligence for
failing to notice the falsification.
Haga received an order from the Tokyo Summary Court to pay a fine of 300,000 yen.
At a hastily called press conference, Hatoyama apologized to the public
following the indictments while stating that he would not step down.
''If I talk about resigning because of this, it will mean abandoning my
responsibilities to the people who made the courageous choice for a change of
power and have expectations of and supported the implementation of policies by
the Democratic Party of Japan and my government,'' Hatoyama said.
Opposition lawmakers, however, have intensified their criticism of the premier,
with Liberal Democratic Party leader Sadakazu Tanigaki telling a press
conference, ''The prime minister has been dealing with the affair as if it is
someone else's and I have to say that attitude is ridiculing serious
taxpayers...The prime minister needs to take responsibility in a serious way.''
The indictment, which came on the 100th day of the launch of the Hatoyama
government, will likely heap more pressure on Hatoyama prior to the start of
the ordinary Diet session next year, combined with another donation scandal
involving DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa.
According to the indictment filed by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors
Office, Katsuba falsely reported that Hatoyama's fund management organization
collected some 308 million yen in individual donations between 2004 and 2008 by
posting made-up donations or overstating small donations, although the actual
donation was 101 million yen.
He also faked the income from sales at fundraising parties as 248 million yen,
although it was actually 95 million yen.
He is also accused of omitting donations from Hatoyama's mother and sister in a
political fund report from 2005 to 2008.
According to sources close to the case, Hatoyama's mother, realizing that
Katsuba was in trouble over the collection of political funds, provided 15
million yen monthly for six years through last year, totaling around 1.08
billion yen, and parts of this money are believed to have been logged as
donations by fictitious donors.
Hatoyama himself has submitted a written statement to the prosecutors denying
any involvement in the case.
Criminal complaints were filed with the prosecutors' office against the three
in relation to the case.
During the press conference, Hatoyama denied having any knowledge of the large
sum of money that had been provided by his mother and falsely recorded as
donations from his supporters in fund reports.
''People say there is no way I could not know about my parent providing funds,
but I really and absolutely did not know about it,'' said Hatoyama.
''I intend to pay gift taxes immediately'' regarding the receipt of funds from
his mother retrospective to 2002, he said, adding the amount of the tax payment
is expected to total more than 600 million yen.
Following Hatoyama's press conference, a senior DPJ lawmaker said, ''This draws
the curtain on the issue and we will pursue the management of politics from now
on.''
But another top DPJ lawmaker said the premier may be forced to step down ''if
public calls for his resignation become overwhelming.''
==Kyodo