News Suzuki arrested over suspicion of bribery

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Lawmaker Muneo Suzuki was arrested June 19 for allegedly taking bribes from a lumber company in a scandal that has deeply embarrassed the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Muneo Suzuki, 54, was taken into custody hours after the Lower House approved an arrest warrant issued by prosecutors, the prosecutors office said. Because Suzuki had refused to give up his Diet seat, the arrest required legislative approval.

Prosecutors sought permission for the arrest on June 17, and on June 18, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama appeared before the Lower House panel to explain why prosecutors wanted to make the arrest. Suzuki later reportedly denied the allegations.

A panel of ruling and opposition leaders eventually approved his arrest in a vote early June 19, paving the way for a vote in the full Lower House.

Tokyo prosecutors say Suzuki allegedly accepted E million from lumber company Yamarin in 1998 in exchange for lobbying for leniency in an illegal logging case.

The lumber company Yamarin is based in Suzuki's constituency in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, and has reportedly made sizable political donations to him

鈴木議員あっせん収賄で逮捕

鈴木宗男衆議院議員が19日、あっせん収賄容疑で逮捕された。

Shukan ST: June 28, 2002

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