Japan Prosecutors Seek To Question Ex-PM Abe On Spending Scandal: Media
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published December 03, 2020 | 01:13 PM
Japanese prosecutors are seeking to question former prime minister Shinzo Abe over a scandal involving the cost of events held for his supporters, local media said Thursday
Tokyo (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Dec, 2020 ) :Japanese prosecutors are seeking to question former prime minister Shinzo Abe over a scandal involving the cost of events held for his supporters, local media said Thursday.
Under Japanese law, spending on political events must be reported, but prosecutors allege that Abe's office failed to do so for dinners his political group organised on the eve of government-sponsored cherry blossom viewing parties.
Public broadcaster NHK said the group paid more than eight million Yen ($76,000) for the events over five years until 2019.
The Tokyo Prosecutors Office, which declined to comment on the story, has already questioned Abe's secretaries for allegedly failing to properly report the cost of the dinners.
NHK and Jiji Press agency said prosecutors wanted to question Abe about his knowledge of the payments.
Abe, who has not yet responded to the prosecutors' request, has already denied any wrongdoing, saying guests, including voters in his constituency, attended at their own expense.
Abe resigned in September over health issues after becoming the country's longest-serving premier.
He weathered several scandals while in office, including over the cherry blossom parties, a decades-old tradition intended to honour the great and good for their achievements.
Abe's government was accused of stacking the event with supporters, and even inviting a member of Japan's infamous Yakuza mafia.
When the opposition demanded a guest list be produced, it emerged the list had been shredded.
While the government denied wrongdoing, Abe's successor Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said he will not hold the event next year.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From World
-
Togo lawmakers approve contested political reform
3 hours ago -
NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies': Zelensky
3 hours ago -
US House to vote on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package
3 hours ago -
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
3 hours ago -
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
3 hours ago -
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
3 hours ago
-
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
4 hours ago -
Man sets self on fire outside Trump trial
4 hours ago -
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
5 hours ago -
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
5 hours ago -
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
5 hours ago -
Ecuador mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
6 hours ago