April 27, 2010
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A prosecution inquest panel in Tokyo has decided that Democratic Party Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa should be indicted over a political funding scandal.
The panel made the decision on Tuesday concerning the scandal involving a 2004 purchase of land in Tokyo by Ozawa's political fund management group, Rikuzankai, for about 4 million dollars.
Tokyo prosecutors had indicted Lower House lawmaker Tomohiro Ishikawa, a former Rikuzankai accountant, and 2 others on charges of falsifying a political funds report in connection with the purchase.
But prosecutors decided not to indict Ozawa, citing a lack of evidence that he was involved in the falsification.A citizens' group unconvinced by the decision asked that the inquest panel review the case.
The panel said Ishikawa and others have testified that they consulted Ozawa before submitting false reports. It also said Ozawa's testimony that he believed his aides were reporting everything truthfully seems strange and hard to believe.
The panel pointed out that Ozawa tried to hide the purchase by borrowing money from a bank using another 4 million dollars as collateral.
It added that there was no need or reason for Ishikawa or others to cover up the flow of money without permission from their boss.
The panel said it is highly likely that Ozawa is an accomplice in the case, and should therefore stand trial.
Following Tuesday's decision, Tokyo prosecutors will reinvestigate and decide again whether Ozawa should be indicted.
The panel's authority was strengthened last year, so even if prosecutors decide not to indict Ozawa, the panel can do so forcibly if its second review produces a reason for such action.
The civic group that had sought the probe into the matter has welcomed the panel's decision. The group says many people were skeptical about the Tokyo prosecutors' decision not to indict Ozawa, and that it hopes he will now be indicted soon.
2010/04/27 17:45(JST)
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