Tokyo Prosecutors Seek Parliamentary Waiver to Arrest Former Construction Minister

Tokyo prosecutors plan to seek a parliamentary waiver to arrest former construction minister Kishiro Nakamura, who has refused to answer questions about his alleged receipt of a bribe. Nakamura, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, is suspected of accepting 10 million yen ($95,000) from major general contractor Kajima Corp. in January 1992. The arrest would be the first of a lawmaker since Japan's parliament, the Diet, began its session this month.

Key Takeaways:

• Prosecutors plan to seek a parliamentary waiver to arrest former construction minister Kishiro Nakamura for refusing to answer questions about his alleged receipt of a bribe.
• Nakamura is suspected of accepting 10 million yen ($95,000) from Kajima Corp. in January 1992, allegedly to pressure the Fair Trade Commission not to file a complaint against bid-rigging scandals involving Kajima and 65 other construction firms.
• The arrest would be the first of a lawmaker since Japan's parliament, the Diet, began its session this month, marking a significant development in the ongoing bribe-for-favors scandal.
• Seven additional investigators have been assigned to the case, bringing the total number of investigators to 35.
• Prosecutors also plan to rearrest former Kajima Vice President Shinji Kiyoyama on suspicion of involvement in delivering the money to Nakamura.

Statistics:

• 10 million yen ($95,000) - the amount of money allegedly received by Nakamura from Kajima Corp.
• 35 - the total number of investigators assigned to the case.
• 7 - the number of additional investigators assigned to the case.
• 65 - the number of construction firms involved in the bid-rigging scandal.
• 20 million yen ($190,000) - the amount of bribe involved in the separate case with former Ibaraki Governor Fujio Takeuchi.

Sources:

• Kyodo News Service
• "Tokyo Prosecutors Plan to Seek Waiver to Arrest Former Construction Minister, Sources Say"