Sources say former justice minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his Diet lawmaker wife Kawai Anri allegedly gave cash to 40 local politicians in the western prefecture of Hiroshima to buy votes.
The two were arrested for a suspected election law violation over last year's Upper House vote in which the wife won a seat. Prosecutors suspect they gave about 240,000 dollars to 94 people.
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.
Former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his wife 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 say Katsuyuki used 220,000 dollars of campaign funds in cash handouts to local politicians and other individuals to secure votes for his wife.
Japan's former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his wife Anri, both lawmakers, have been arrested by prosecutors over an alleged violation of the election law.
NHK has learned that Japanese prosecutors have asked two lawmakers to turn themselves in for questioning over their alleged vote-buying.
They are expected to arrest Kawai Katsuyuki, a former justice minister and Lower House representative, and his wife, Kawai Anri, an Upper House member, on suspicion of violating the election law as early as Thursday.
NHK has learned that two Japanese lawmakers have decided to leave the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party over alleged violations of the election law.
Kawai Katsuyuki, former Justice Minister and his wife Kawai Anri, Upper House member have told sources that they don't want to cause any more trouble for the party.
Informed sources say Japanese prosecutors questioned a Diet lawmaker couple earlier this month on a voluntary basis over their alleged violations of the election law.
The sources say the questioning took place during a holiday period in early May.
Japanese prosecutors have questioned Upper House member Anri Kawai and her husband, Lower House member Katsuyuki Kawai, in connection with alleged election law violations.
Three aides to the two lawmakers of the governing Liberal Democratic Party were arrested earlier this month. They are alleged to have paid Anri Kawai's 14 campaign staff members more than the legal limit during her campaign for last year's Upper House election.
NHK has learned that arrangements are being made for Japan's Imperial couple to make a state visit to Britain for about a week in early May.
The British royal household announced last month that Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako had accepted an invitation from Queen Elizabeth.
Prosecutors in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, have raided the offices of Upper House member Anri Kawai and her husband, Lower House member Katsuyuki Kawai, on suspicion of violating the election law.
Anri Kawai has been charged with paying her campaign staff above the legal limit during her successful run for the Upper House in July last year. Prosecutors have been questioning her staff since last month.