Japan: Four cabinet ministers quit over fundraising scandal

In Japan, four cabinet ministers quit yesterday over a fundraising scandal involving the ruling party. Local media reported that Tokyo prosecutors have also launched a corruption probe.

 

It said, more than 3.4 million dollar is alleged to have ended up in slush funds. The ministers are suspected of failing to declare the amount.

 

Chief Cabinet Secretary and top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno was the most prominent of



the four ministers. Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Internal Affairs Minister Junji Suzuki and Agriculture Minister Ichiro Miyashita also stepped down. In addition, five senior vice ministers and a parliamentary vice minister also quit.

 

Japanese political parties routinely organise events attended by supporters to raise funds, with the profits ploughed back into campaigning.