Nov 28 09:31 PM US/Eastern(AP) - TOKYO, Nov. 29 (Kyodo)—Former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya made suggestions to his subordinates several times from spring that the Defense Agency should sign a discretionary contract on jet engine procurement with defense equipment trading house Nihon Mirise Corp., sources familiar with the case said Thursday.
Moriya, 63, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of taking bribes from Motonobu Miyazaki, 69, who set up Nihon Mirise last year.
If Moriya in fact made such suggestions, it contradicts his earlier remarks as a sworn witness at a parliamentary panel in October.
At that time he said he had discussions with his subordinates on June 14 on the method of the contract but accepted their explanation that a Finance Ministry policy change does not allow the ministry to sign a discretionary contract unless it holds a public tender.
Moriya however has repeatedly denied insisting on a discretionary contract or giving favors to Miyazaki.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office is apparently aware of the information on Moriya's alleged suggestions, suspecting that Moriya may have pushed for awarding Miyazaki's company with a major contract, the sources said.
The prosecutors office on Wednesday arrested Moriya and his wife Sachiko on bribe-taking while serving a fresh arrest warrant for Miyazaki on a charge of giving the bribes to Moriya in the form of golf outings.
The engines in question are those made by General Electric Co. of the United States for Japan's next-generation defense transport aircraft called CX.
In July this year, Nihon Mirise obtained the right to sell the engines, a right previously held by Yamada Corp.
Miyazaki left Yamada in June last year and set up Nihon Mirise in September that year.
Posts
