JAXA Corruption Case Requested for 1 Year and 6 Months by Former General Officer August 22 19:29
JAXA = A former prosecutor of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, who was charged with bribery for receiving a business value of approximately 1.5 million yen for the work of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, It was admitted that he began to seek positively, and strong criticism is unavoidable. "
Defendant Kazuaki Kawabata (58), who was an international general manager of the Director-General-level post of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, was a medical consultant company in Tokyo for four years before being sent to JAXA, and dispatched an astronaut to a lecture. In return for the convenience of the company, they were charged with bribery for receiving entertainment worth approximately 1.5 million yen, including eating and drinking in a high-class club.
The prosecutor's office in the Tokyo District Court held on the 22nd, said, “Some repeated entertainment costs range from tens of thousands of yen to 100,000 yen. "I was unaware of my position and responsibility as a director of JAXA compliance, and I can't escape strong criticism."
On top of that, he was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison, saying that "the dispatch of astronaut lecturers has actually been realized, and the public's trust in the fairness of public duties has been greatly impaired."
On the other hand, Mr. Kawabata admitted that he was entertained, apologized and innocently claimed that it was not a return in favor.
The decision will be handed down on December 4th.