In the trial of former Minister of Justice Katsuyuki Kawai, who was accused of violating the Public Offices Election Act, two members of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly received cash from the former minister in the name of a celebration of the election, but the purpose was to request a vote for Senator Anri. I testified that I thought it was.
Former Minister of Justice Katsuyuki Kawai (57) has been acquitted of the acquisition of a violation of the Public Offices Election Act over the first election of his wife, Anri Kawai (47), in the Upper House election.
Jun Okii, a member of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly who was called as a witness, received an envelope containing 500,000 yen in cash from a former minister who visited the office after a no-vote election was decided in the prefectural assembly election in April. I admitted that.
Regarding the purpose of cash, Mr. Oki said that the former minister said, "It's a celebration," and said, "The former minister, who had never brought a congratulatory election, came immediately after the announcement of his candidacy. I couldn't think of anything other than the purpose of the acquisition, asking for a vote, and I thought the celebration was just a name. "
Mr. Oki returned the envelope to the former minister's office five days later.
Mr. Yasuhisa Kubota, a member of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly who subsequently appeared as a witness, also said that he received 300,000 yen in cash after being told "Congratulations" by the former minister at his supporters' association office in April immediately after he was elected without a vote. I did.
Mr. Kubota also testified that he thought it was a voting request because he was handed over for the first time.
Approximately two months later, he returned to the former minister's office, and Kubota said in a small voice that he "regrets" receiving the cash.