National News

Ozawa's ex-secretary arrested over land buy

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa's former secretary, Tomohiro Ishikawa, a DPJ Lower House member, was arrested Jan. 15 on suspicion of violating the political funds law.

Ishikawa has claimed a suspicious land purchase made by Rikuzankai, Ozawa's fund management body, was financed with 400 million yen borrowed from Ozawa. Rikuzankai is suspected of failing to report money used to buy the land in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward in October 2004, in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.

Ozawa has said some 300 million yen kept at his home was used for the land buy. But that is 50 million yen less than the price of the plot and inconsistent with Ishikawa's explanation.

Ozawa's link with contractors is the focus of an investigation, as the politician is believed to have had influence over the selection of companies for public works projects in areas around his constituency in Iwate Prefecture.

Ozawa is widely seen as the main power in the DPJ and was thought to have initially ignored a request from prosecutors to appear for voluntary questioning. (Kyodo News)

Shukan ST: January 29, 2010

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