The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has banned six companies, including major advertising companies Dentsu Group and Hakuhodo, as well as seven executives from each company, including the former deputy director of the Organizing Committee of the Games, in a bid-rigging case involving the operation of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. I was charged with breaking the law.
The investigation into the bid-rigging case, which began in the wake of the corruption scandal surrounding the Tokyo Games, turned into an unusual situation in which a company representing the advertising industry was accused of a crime.
The prosecution was against major advertising companies "Dentsu Group", "Hakuhodo", "Tokyu Agency", event production companies "Celespo", "Fuji Creative Corporation" and "Same Two", and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. Defendant Yasuo Mori (56), former deputy director of the tournament management department, Defendant Koji Hemmi (55), a former executive of Dentsu and managing director of the sports business department, Defendant Yoshitsugu Kamata (59), Senior Managing Director of Cerespo In addition, there are four people, Masahiko Fujino (63), managing director of Fuji Creative Corporation.
In addition, Kenichiro Yokomizo, 55, president of Hakuhodo DY Sports Marketing, Mitsuo Yasuda, 60, director of Tokyu Agency, and Masao Unno, 56, president of Same Two, were indicted without detention.
According to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office and other sources, the six companies and Deputy Director Morimoto and others have been involved in fraudulent activities involving a total of 43.7 billion yen, including bids for planning test competitions for each sport ordered by the organizing committee and the operation of the main tournament. He has been accused of violating the Anti-Monopoly Act, saying that he has been making adjustments to orders.
The company that won the bid for the planning work for the test tournament later received orders for the operation of the main tournament of the same sport in the form of a negotiated contract, and the Special Investigation Department is considering receiving orders for the main tournament work, which costs more for each company. We have proceeded with the investigation assuming that there is a suspicion that we were collaborating with
The Special Investigation Department believes that a group company of advertising giant ADK was also involved in the collusion, but considering that it first voluntarily reported the fraud to the Fair Trade Commission based on the "surcharge exemption system" of the Antimonopoly Act. It is believed that the prosecution was postponed.
The Special Investigation Department has not disclosed the acknowledgment or disapproval of the seven, but according to people involved, Deputy Director Morimoto and former executive Hemi have admitted to the indictment.
The investigation into the bid rigging, which began in the wake of the corruption scandal surrounding the Tokyo Games, became an unusual situation in which a company representing the advertising industry was accused of being a legal entity. welcomed