Apr 27 09:21 AM US/Eastern
TOKYO, April 27 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa could come under renewed pressure to step down from the ruling party's No. 2 post ahead of this summer's upper house election, following Tuesday's decision by a judicial review panel that he should be indicted over a funds scandal.
Reacting to the panel's decision later in the day, however, Ozawa said he intends to remain in his post.
"I'm surprised by the unexpected result," he told reporters. "I believe the investigative authorities will make an appropriate judgment in the end."
Ozawa added that prosecutors "concluded as a result of one year of investigation" that no illicit donations were involved and that no tax evasion or any other crimes were conducted.
The independent panel said Ozawa merits indictment over his fund management body's alleged false reporting of political funds from 2004 to 2007.
The 11 randomly selected citizens reached the decision unanimously following a complaint filed by a citizens group over a decision in February by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office not to charge Ozawa in connection with the scandal.
The decision will be an unwelcome blow to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, whose support ratings have fallen due to dissatisfaction with several issues, including a continuing dispute over relocation of a U.S. Marine base, at a time when July's House of Councillors' election is on the horizon.
Hatoyama, who is also DPJ president, declined to comment on the judicial review panel's decision, telling reporters that whatever he says could have a bearing on the course of the prosecutors' subsequent decision.
While declining to make any comment as the government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, a DPJ lawmaker, told a press conference, "I'm aware that politicians always have a responsibility to explain things to people," but added that Ozawa himself should decide what to do.
But the panel's decision provided fresh impetus for the opposition bloc to attack Hatoyama and the DPJ-led government.
"The decision is serious," Sadakazu Tanigaki, president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, said. "He must fulfill his responsibility in explaining the case to parliament as well as to the people."
"I expect it will refuel debate (over Ozawa) within the DPJ, and make it difficult for him to stay in the secretary general's post," said Takeo Hiranuma, a conservative politician who recently launched a new party aiming to drive the DPJ from power.
Ozawa "should take it extremely seriously," said Yoichi Masuzoe, an LDP defector who has just formed another new party. "I want to fight the upper election by focusing on the issue (of money scandals)."
The pressure on Ozawa is also growing within the DPJ.
"It would be the best for him to decide how to take moral responsibility," said Kozo Watanabe, a senior DPJ lawmaker who leads party members disaffected with Ozawa. "If he cannot make a decision, the only superior to him, Mr. Hatoyama, will be responsible for it."
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, who also belongs to an anti-Ozawa segment in the DPJ, denied there would be any immediate repercussions from the review panel's decision on the Hatoyama government.
Government Revitalization Minister Yukio Edano, another critic of Ozawa, indicated there will be "various developments" within the next few days, while declining to elaborate.
In February, Tokyo prosecutors decided not to indict Ozawa due to lack of evidence over a shady Tokyo land deal by his Rikuzankai funds management body, while prosec
Posts
