In a trial in which a former member of the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly, who also served as the chairman of the National Prefectural Assembly, was charged with fraud and other charges for defrauding the state affairs activity expenses of more than 5.7 million yen, the Yamagata District Court said, "Going to the state affairs activity expenses system. It damages the trust of the citizens of the prefecture, "and sentenced him to one year and six months in prison and a three-year suspended sentence.

Masafumi Nogawa (68), a former member of the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly who served as the chairman of the National Prefectural Assembly Chairman's Association, prepared a fictitious receipt and issued a false political activity expense balance report from 2015. He was accused of fraud and other charges, alleging that he had created 6 years' worth of money over the 2nd year of the Japanese government and deceived 5.76 million yen including political activity expenses.



In previous trials, the prosecutor's office has sentenced him to one year and six months in prison after admitting that he was charged with "I wanted money that I could use freely and used it for eating, drinking, traveling, etc." I did.



In a ruling on the 27th, Yamagata District Court Judge Osamu Imai said, "The crime over a long period of 6 years is habitual and malicious, and the property damage is great. It undermines the prefectural people's trust in the system. "



On the other hand, he was guilty of imprisonment for 1 year and 6 months and a suspended sentence of 3 years, saying, "In addition to paying the prefecture about 7.8 million yen including the voluntary return, he resigned as a member of the Diet and stated his remorse." I handed down the judgment.



After the decision, former Senator Nogawa apologized in response to a reporter's interview, saying, "I would like to take the decision seriously. I would like to sincerely apologize to the citizens of the prefecture. I will repeat my reflection and apology in my future life."



According to the lawyer, there are no plans to appeal at this time.