Mr. and Mrs. Hosoi Kawai, first trial [denial of guilt since the opening of the court] August 25, 10:43

Katsuyuki Kawai The first trial of a large-scale takeover case over the House of Councilors election last year, in which the former Minister of Justice and his wife, Representative Kaori, were prosecuted, started around 10:3 am.

Personal question

In court, the first steps of the trial have begun. The two stood side by side in front of a witness in the center of the court and were asked by the presiding judge for their name and occupation. In response, I answered, "I am Katsuyuki Kawai. I am a member of the House of Representatives." Representative Sato also replied, "I am Kawai. I am a member of the House of Councilors." Former Minister Katsuyuki responded with a loud voice, looking at the presiding judge in a loud voice. Rep. Satoshi answered with a slightly soft voice, holding his hand in front of him.

State of the defendant

We entered the court in the order of former Minister Katsuyuki and Representative Kaori.

Former Minister Katsuyuki sat down in front of the lawyer after slightly bowing his head and looking over the audience for a while.

He wore a dark suit, not a tie, but a white shirt. It looked thinner than before the arrest.

Representative Satoshi, wearing a suit of navy blue and blue, bowed deeply when entering the court.

I'm wearing a white mask, but I looked tense.

Read the indictment

The prosecutor read the indictment in court. The two were standing in front of the testimony, former Katsuyuki was facing the front, and Representative Satoshi was lying down listening to the reading of the indictment.

Pre-Katsuyuki Minister of Justice

When asked about the contents of the indictment by the presiding judge, Mr. Katsuyuki first deeply apologizes for "worrying and annoying the many people who sent me to the national affairs." Lowered and apologized.

As for the indictment, he said, "I deny that I am a "general leader". I have never conspired with Kawari Kuri to provide cash."

Regarding the donation of cash, he said, ``There are some parts that I do not remember clearly, but I think that it is about the same as the donation itself,'' he also argued that the amount of donation for the three people is clearly different from the memory. did.

In addition, he added, "I did not provide any of the donations for the purpose of requesting election campaigns such as voting on Kawai Seri and summarizing the votes," and insisted on innocence.

Representative Sato

When asked by Mr. Satoshi about the content of the indictment by the presiding judge, "I am very sorry for the voters and those who supported

the election . I deeply apologize for the series of elections . " I apologized.

Regarding the indictment, he said, "I have no doubt that I ran for the House of Councilors election last year from the Hiroshima constituency and my husband was in control of my election campaign.

However, I have never conspired with my husband, I've never asked five people to campaign for my election, and I didn't give them cash as a reward," he insisted.

He also said, "I have not run an election campaign before the candidacy report, and I have only done political activities to expand the LDP's party and prepared for the election campaign before the candidacy report."

He also admitted that he gave cash to three of the five local councilors who were to be provided with cash, and said that he "don't" or "remember" two.

Former lawyer of Katsuyuki

Following the indemnity of the former Minister Katsuyuki, the lawyer said, "Since the charges were due to an illegal investigation, we demand the dismissal of the charges and the termination of the trial. The content of the charges is the same as the defendant. The defendant is not guilty."

Satoshi lawyer

"I admit that Mr. Kashiri was a spouse, and that Mr. Katsuyuki was the presidency of the election campaign." There is no fact that he conspired with former Minister Katsuyuki on the provision of cash in order to request a local council member to collect votes."

As for the three local lawmakers who approved the cash donation, Satoshi said, "This is not a reward for requesting a summary of the votes. Of these, two of them were visiting the united local elections and the other one was It was a donation with the feeling of celebrating the election of the unified local elections."

In addition, "A statement of affairs was prepared under the promise that five local lawmakers would not be prosecuted with the public prosecutor for violations of the Public Offices Election Law. ".