National News Ozawa's ex-secretary arrested over land buy

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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)

小沢氏団体土地購入問題、元秘書の議員逮捕

小沢一郎民主党幹事長の資金管理団体「陸山会」の土地購入をめぐる事件で、東京地検特捜部は1月15日、政治資金規正法違反の疑いで、同会の事務担当者だった衆院議員石川知裕容疑者を逮捕した。

Shukan ST: January 29, 2010

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