Vice Minister of Justice Mizuaki Kakizawa sentenced to two years in prison in trial over Koto Ward mayoral election. He is charged with bribery, a violation of the Public Offices Election Act.
He posted paid advertisements on the Internet calling for votes for former ward mayor Yayoi Kimura. The defense requested a suspended sentence, saying he had shown remorse. The verdict will be handed down on March 14th. The former lawmaker said, ``He greatly disappointed the people's expectations and ruined everything he had built. His crime deserves death.''