In the trial of former Minister of Justice Katsuyuki Kawai, who is accused of taking over a violation of the Public Offices Election Act, the biggest question of the accused will begin on the 23rd.

While many local lawmakers testify that it was "for the purpose of the acquisition," the focus will be on what the former minister, who claims to be innocent, says.

Former Minister of Justice Katsuyuki Kawai (58) violated the Public Offices Election Act, saying that his wife, Anri Kawai (47), had distributed more than 29 million yen to 100 local lawmakers over the election of the House of Councilors for the first time. Is accused of acquiring.



In a trial held since August last year, more than 50 local lawmakers were called in by witnesses, most of whom testified that they were "for acquisition."



From the 23rd to the 9th of next month, the accused will be asked nine times.



At the first trial, the former minister stated that "cash was not provided to request the collection of votes," and pleaded not guilty. I would like to say it in my own trial, "he refused most of the testimony.



The focus will be on how to state the fact that local lawmakers testified that it was the purpose of the acquisition, and how to explain that they made over 29 million yen in cash.

History of the trial so far

This is the history of the trial so far.



Former Minister Katsuyuki Kawai's trial began in August last year and has been held in the "Hundred Days Trial," which facilitates trials.



At the first trial, the former minister pleaded not guilty, saying, "We did not provide it to request election campaigns such as voting for Anri Kawai and collecting votes."



Initially, it was heard together with the trial of former Senator Anri Kawai, but in September last year, the trial was suspended because the former minister suddenly dismissed the defense team, and after that, what is the trial of former Senator Anri Kawai? It has been opened separately.



When he was called as a witness in the trial of former Senator Anri last October, he said, "I myself have been criminally charged and I am a defendant, so I would like to say what I need in my own trial." Refused to testify against.



A new defense team was formed and the trial resumed in November last year, and more than 50 witnesses, including local lawmakers and camp staff who allegedly received cash, were cross-examined and the testimony was investigated. , Most of the witnesses testified that the cash received from the former minister was "for acquisition purposes."



In January, the trial of former Senator Anri Kawai, who had been heard earlier, was convicted of imprisonment for one year and four months and a suspended sentence of five years.



Former Senator Anri resigned and was convicted without appeal.



On the 3rd of this month, the former minister was granted bail, paid a bail of 50 million yen, and left the Tokyo Detention House, which had been detained for more than eight months since his arrest in June last year.



On the 16th of this month, after all the witness cross-examinations and the defendant's questions, the prosecution's argument and the closing argument of the defense will be held, and all the hearings are expected to end.

Testimony in court of local lawmakers

Most of the local lawmakers who allegedly received the cash testified that they thought it was for acquisition.



I have summarized the testimony in court.



Former Minister of Construction Shizuka Kamei admitted that he had received the maximum amount of 3 million yen, and said, "I refused because I thought it violated the Public Offices Election Act, but the former minister handed it over again, saying,'Because elections will take various things.' I kept it because I kept it. I have seen it as a secretary for many years, but if I get cash from a political figure who won seven times, I can not refuse it because it is heavy. "



Former Vice-Chairman Shingo Mito of the Akitakata City Council said, "I intuitively thought that it was cash to ask for a vote for the Upper House election. Former Chairman Kazuyuki Maekawa said," This must be returned in some way. I thought I got the chairman because I made a gesture that I could put my hands on both hands, "he said, and testified that the two people shared the recognition of illegality with the chairman.



Former member of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly, Seiya Kawakami, testified that cash had an impact on the support, saying, "Since I received cash from the former minister, I thought I had to do my best to elect former member Anri Kawai."



There was also conspicuous testimony that he received it because he did not want to damage his relationship with former Minister Kawai, a member of the Diet.



Former Mayor Shinji Kosaka of Akiota Town testified that "Akiota Town is a mountainous area and there are many issues, so I wanted to bring it to the plus with the help of local Diet members."



Former Mayor Yoshinori Tenma of Mihara City also said, "In local cities, it is necessary to secure a budget, and I thought that I would cherish the pipe with the former minister who has the ability. Was poured in? "



On the other hand, some lawmakers testified that they did not think it was the purpose of the acquisition.



Noriko Watanabe, a member of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly, reflexively refused to say "No," but the former minister said, "It's okay, okay, because it's always the case." I received it. I didn't receive it if it was acquired or acquired. "



Ryuji Ishibashi, a member of the Hiroshima City Council, said, "Congratulations on winning, save this. It's a secret of only two people." It was screwed into my inner pocket. I thought it was a celebration of winning. "