The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Office has alleged that House Representative Tsukasa Akimoto was paid “several hundred thousand yen” in travel expenses by under-fire Chinese firm 500.com in its pursuit of a Japanese IR license.
Akimoto, who was first arrested on 25 December, was re-arrested and indicted on Tuesday in relation to the latest allegations which come on top of a previously alleged JPY2 million he received for delivering a keynote speech at a symposium in Naha City in August 2017, paid to him via a consultancy company established in Tokyo by the former policy secretary.
It was also revealed on Tuesday that Kimihito Kamori, Chairman of tourism company Kamori Kanko, has been indicted for bribery without arrest. Kamori Kanko operates Rusutsu Resort and Noboribetsu Bear Park.
It is alleged that, Kamori Kanko invited Akimoto and his family to Hokkaido in February 2019 and spent JPY 760,000 on airfares and accommodation.
Akimoto’s supporters’ political fund reports indicate that JPY 2.56 million was paid as travel expenses to a company in Hong Kong which is connected with a former advisor of 500.com, but there is some doubt over whether this sum was actually ever paid out.
According to lawyers, Akimoto has denied all charges and believes this payment was accounted for by his secretary.
