Ex-justice Minister, Wife Indicted For Vote-buying

Ex-justice minister, wife indicted for vote-buying

Tokyo prosecutors have indicted former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his lawmaker wife Kawai Anri on charges of buying votes for an election.

Prosecutors say Kawai Katsuyuki handed out a total of around 270,000 dollars to about 100 people, mainly local politicians and supporters. They say he tried to secure votes for his wife's successful bid for the Upper House last July.

Former Justice Minister Likely To Be Prosecuted

Former justice minister likely to be prosecuted

Prosecutors in Tokyo are expected to indict Lower House lawmaker and former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki, along with his wife, Upper House member Kawai Anri, on charges of election law violations on Wednesday.

The prosecutors believe the couple gave about 270,000 dollars in cash to about 100 local politicians and supporters. They think the aim was to secure votes last July for the wife, who won her seat.

Justice Minister To Stay In Post After Gaffe

Justice minister to stay in post after gaffe

Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori has apologized for controversial remarks she made during Monday's Diet session, and says she wants to continue in her post.

Mori said that prosecutors fled Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture before the public when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11, 2011.

Former Justice Minister And Wife's Aides Arrested

Former Justice Minister and wife's aides arrested

Three aides to former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his lawmaker wife Anri Kawai, have been arrested on suspicion of violating the election law.

Hiroshima district prosecutors arrested Shinsuke Takaya, a policy secretary to Katsuyuki Kawai, on Tuesday. They also arrested Hiroshi Tatemichi, a second secretary to Upper House member Anri Kawai, and Yugo Waki, a senior official of her campaign team.

No-confidence Motion On Justice Minister Rejected

No-confidence motion on justice minister rejected

The Lower House of Japan's Diet has rejected a no-confidence motion against the justice minister and a motion to dismiss the chair of the Budget Committee.

The moves come as wrangling between the ruling and opposition camps over passing the fiscal 2020 budget bill through the chamber reaches its final stage.

Justice Minister Mulls Ways To Prevent Escapes

Justice minister mulls ways to prevent escapes

Japan's Justice Minister Masako Mori is planning to ask her advisory panel to debate legal revisions to prevent bail-jumping.

The move comes after former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn fled Japan last month as well as other cases of escapes.

Japan's Justice Minister Refutes Ghosn

Japan's justice minister refutes Ghosn

Japan's justice minister says former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn's criticism of Japan's justice system was mostly abstract, unclear or baseless.

Masako Mori rebutted Ghosn's remarks in a news conference shortly after 9 a.m. Japan time on Thursday.