Lawmaker Couple Arrested Over Alleged Vote - Buying
Japan's former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his wife Kawai Anri have been arrested by prosecutors over an alleged violation of the election law. Both are lawmakers, formerly with the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Prosecutors arrested the couple on Thursday and searched their offices.
Investigators say the former justice minister handed out about 220,000 dollars to about 90 local politicians and other individuals to secure votes for his wife.
Anri ran in the Upper House election in July last year and won her seat.
Prosecutors allege she conspired with her husband and handed out an additional 16,000 dollars in cash to 5 people.
After the election, the husband was appointed Justice Minister but was forced to resign when the scandal broke in a weekly magazine last October.
Katsuyuki reiterated on Wednesday that he did not engage in any kind of shady political activities nor did he do anything illegal. His wife refrained from commenting.
Kawai Anri said, "I've been told by my lawyer not to say anything. I'm sorry."
The arrests come after the Hiroshima District Court handed down a suspended prison sentence of 18 months to Anri's secretary on Tuesday. He was found guilty of paying her campaign workers more than is legally allowed.
On Wednesday, the Kawais submitted their notices of departure from the Liberal Democratic Party. But sources say they have no intention of resigning their Diet seats.
People in the couple's home district expressed anger.
A man in Hiroshima said, "It's very unclear and unpleasant. They should explain more clearly."
Another man said, "I'm proud of Hiroshima. So I'm really disappointed."
