A former director of the department was arrested on suspicion of violating the Official Bid Rigging Prevention Law over bidding for work related to the operation of a clinical research portal site ordered by the National Institute of Public Health, alleging that he set the qualifications for participation in the bidding to favor a specific contractor.
Among those arrested was 62-year-old former director of the Policy Technology Evaluation and Research Division of the National Institute of Public Health and a university professor.
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, former director Sato is suspected of violating the Government-Made Bid Rigging Prevention Law by setting eligibility for participation in the bidding to favor an information system company in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, regarding operations related to the operation of a portal site for clinical research ordered by the National Institute of Public Health and bidding was held in March 2019.
The Metropolitan Police Department has not confirmed or denied the claim.
It is believed that the former general manager changed the qualifications to participate in the tender, increased the period during which he had received orders for similar work, and set qualification requirements that are not related to the work.
In this bid, the competitor was disqualified due to the change in eligibility, and the company in Shinagawa Ward actually received the order.
The former general manager was a long-time acquaintance with the representative of the company, so the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the details.