The Tokyo High Court held the final hearing in the case regarding former LDP lawmaker Akimoto Tsukasa, who was accused of accepting bribes between 2017 and 2018 from a Chinese company aiming to enter the Japanese casino market.
Defense attorneys argued that, contrary to the indictment, Akimoto was away from the complex housing lawmaker offices next to the National Diet in Tokyo during the period when the cash was allegedly handed over.
Presiding Judge Ando Akira stated that the statements in the indictment were "objectively supported and sufficiently credible," and noted that there was no "logical inconsistency" in the lower court's ruling.
SENTENCES UPHELD
With the court's decision, the 4-year prison sentence and 7.6 million yen ($50,000) fine imposed on Akimoto, who also served as a Senior Vice Minister in the cabinet at the time, for accepting bribes in the casino project were upheld.
The court also upheld the suspended prison sentence handed down to Akimoto's former secretary, 45-year-old Toyoshima Akihiro, for his alleged involvement in the incident.
WHAT HAPPENED?
During his tenure as a deputy minister in the cabinet office in September 2017, Akimoto was tasked with overseeing the government's draft plan aimed at legalizing casino activities.
Akimoto was detained in December 2019 on charges of accepting bribes between September 2017 and February 2018 from the China-based company "500.com Ltd.," which was developing an integrated resort project aiming to enter the Japanese casino market.
News Source: AA
