National News

E-mail wasn't from Horie: DPJ

The e-mail that raised a ruckus in the Diet - when the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) alleged it proved shady financial links between Livedoor founder Takafumi Horie and a top ruling-party figure - was in fact the work of a freelance journalist, DPJ sources have admitted.

The e-mail appeared to be an order from Horie to subordinates to transfer ¥30 million to a son of Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe. But the sender and recipient of the e-mail were one and the same.

The journalist passed the e-mail on to DPJ lawmaker Hisayasu Nagata, who presented it in the Diet on Feb. 16.

Nagata failed to authenticate it and has offered to resign.

"I apologize for causing trouble," Nagata told reporters Feb. 28 as he left the hospital he had been admitted to for fatigue caused by the scandal.

DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama agreed with Ichiro Ozawa, a former DPJ vice president, to back current party president Seiji Maehara until September, when the party's next presidential election is to be held. (Kyodo)

Shukan ST: March 10, 2006

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