Former Japanese senior vice justice minister Mito Kakizawa has been arrested for alleged vote-buying in the April mayoral election of Tokyo’s Koto Ward. Kakizawa, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is accused of using approximately 2.6 million yen ($18,000) to support candidate Yayoi Kimura, with the payment considered an attempt to buy votes. Prosecutors claim Kakizawa’s office provided cash to Koto Ward assembly members as directed by him and offered remuneration to Kimura’s election campaign staff. Kakizawa denies the allegations, stating that the cash given to assembly members was a customary mid-campaign contribution and not intended to buy votes. He resigned as senior vice justice minister in October over a separate matter related to recommending paid online ads for Kimura’s campaign, a violation of election law. Kakizawa left the LDP on December 14 when his offices were raided by prosecutors.
Source – CGTN
Photo Credit – Kyodo News
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