ID :
99759
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 08:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/99759
The shortlink copeid
Ozawa apologizes for alleged accounting irregularities+
TOKYO, Jan. 12 Kyodo - Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa apologized to the public on Tuesday for a set of alleged accounting irregularities involving his fund management body, while denying any wrongdoing over a controversial land purchase in Tokyo.
''I feel very sorry that I have attracted the people's misunderstanding and
caused them an inconvenience and worry,'' the ruling party heavyweight said at
a press conference.
Referring to the land purchase, he said, ''I believe that staff at my office
have not violated the law intentionally, although they and I may have made some
miscalculations.''
His fund management body called Rikuzankai is suspected of failing to record in
its political funds reports some 400 million yen, money that allegedly came
from Ozawa as funds to purchase a tract of land in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward in
2004, in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.
Tomohiro Ishikawa, a DPJ lawmaker who was in charge of clerical work at
Rikuzankai, has admitted that more than 400 million yen had not been recorded
in the body's funds reports and that the money for the purchase came from Ozawa
himself.
Rikuzankai is also allegedly involved in other accounting irregularities
involving Nishimatsu Construction Co.
At the news conference, Ozawa declined to further elaborate on any of the
scandals, telling reporters he was not going to comment on specific issues as
he was leaving the matter in the hands of his lawyers while investigations are
ongoing.
Prosecutors have requested Ozawa to appear for questioning on a voluntary basis
in connection with their investigation on the land purchase.
But arrangements over a schedule for the questioning have not gone smoothly and
it is not known if questioning will be held within this week, according to
sources familiar with the case.
Ozawa apparently has no time due to a tight schedule including stumping in
regional areas in the run-up to this summer's House of Councillors election,
they said.
==Kyodo
2010-01-12 23:26:50
''I feel very sorry that I have attracted the people's misunderstanding and
caused them an inconvenience and worry,'' the ruling party heavyweight said at
a press conference.
Referring to the land purchase, he said, ''I believe that staff at my office
have not violated the law intentionally, although they and I may have made some
miscalculations.''
His fund management body called Rikuzankai is suspected of failing to record in
its political funds reports some 400 million yen, money that allegedly came
from Ozawa as funds to purchase a tract of land in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward in
2004, in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.
Tomohiro Ishikawa, a DPJ lawmaker who was in charge of clerical work at
Rikuzankai, has admitted that more than 400 million yen had not been recorded
in the body's funds reports and that the money for the purchase came from Ozawa
himself.
Rikuzankai is also allegedly involved in other accounting irregularities
involving Nishimatsu Construction Co.
At the news conference, Ozawa declined to further elaborate on any of the
scandals, telling reporters he was not going to comment on specific issues as
he was leaving the matter in the hands of his lawyers while investigations are
ongoing.
Prosecutors have requested Ozawa to appear for questioning on a voluntary basis
in connection with their investigation on the land purchase.
But arrangements over a schedule for the questioning have not gone smoothly and
it is not known if questioning will be held within this week, according to
sources familiar with the case.
Ozawa apparently has no time due to a tight schedule including stumping in
regional areas in the run-up to this summer's House of Councillors election,
they said.
==Kyodo
2010-01-12 23:26:50
