Kawais Likely Gave Cash To Some 40 Local Lawmakers


Kawais likely gave cash to some 40 local lawmakers

Sources say former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his Diet lawmaker wife Anri handed cash to dozens of local assembly members in her Hiroshima constituency.

The couple were arrested by Tokyo prosecutors on Thursday on suspicion of violating the public office election law.

Prosecutors suspect the Kawais distributed cash to secure votes for Anri in the Upper House election last July. The money allegedly totaled about 25.7 million yen, or roughly 240,000 dollars.

Sources say investigators believe that names written on lists they seized from the couple's home are those of the people to whom they handed cash.

The sources say the lists indicate the couple gave money to 94 people, including about 40 prefectural and municipal assembly members of Hiroshima. They add that the largest offer amounted to around 9,300 dollars and that multiple offers were made to at least one person.

Anri ran on the ticket of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the election. But she had to divide votes with another LDP candidate in the closely-contested constituency.

The sources say the Kawais deny any wrongdoing and are refusing to resign as Diet lawmakers.