November 28, 2007Tokyo prosecutors have arrested a former vice defense minister on suspicion of accepting bribes from a trading firm in exchange for favorable treatment in the procurement of defense equipment.
Former vice defense minister Takemasa Moriya was arrested on Wednesday. His wife, Sachiko, was also arrested as an accomplice.
A former executive of the defense trading firm Yamada Corporation, Motonobu Miyazaki, was also arrested for offering the bribes.
Prosecutors say Mr Moriya accepted golf trips and other entertainment worth a total of 4 million yen, or about 37,000 US dollars, from Mr Miyazaki in exchange for favorable treatment.
His wife was also frequently entertained with golf.
Prosecutors have already learned that Mr Moriya lobbied for Mr Miyazaki in the procurement of engines for a transport aircraft, and came to his defense when Yamada's alleged bill-padding for helicopter parts was revealed.
Prosecutors say the golf trips, which were paid for entirely by Yamada, constitute bribery.
They are also searching the home of Mr Moriya to unravel the truth about the long-standing collusive ties between the former vice defense minister and the trading firm.
Mr Moriya served as vice defense minister for more than 4 years.
He resigned in August after clashing with then defense minister Yuriko Koike over the nomination of his successor.
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