The Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office requested on Wednesday that the Tokyo District Court revoke the bail of Tsukasa Akimoto, the House of Representatives member charged with bribery in a case involving an IR bid.
Akimoto was arrested and charged with violating laws on organized crime by attempting to pay a witness to give false testimony while Akimoto was on bail. The district public prosecutor’s office appears to have determined that Akimoto violated his bail conditions, which prohibit the destruction of evidence. If the district court approves the request, all or part of the bail deposit of JPY30 million will be forfeited.
Akimoto is said to have received a bribe totaling JPY7.6 million from Chinese company 500.com, which had been seeking to develop an IR in either Hokkaido or Okinawa at the time of the offence.
When indicted on 3 February following his second arrest in as many months, the district court decided to grant bail and Akimoto was released on bail 12 February while professing his innocence.
However he was arrested again in August, and for a fourth time in September, for attempting to give cash in payment for two former advisors of 500.com to provide false testimony in court. Akimoto has remained in detention even after the trial began.
RelatedPosts
