In a corruption case involving offshore wind power projects, Representative Masatoshi Akimoto was suspected of receiving multiple requests from the former president of a wind power company seeking to enter the business to ask Diet questions that would favor the company, and in return provided a large amount of money, according to interviews with people involved. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Special Investigation Division is expected to launch a full-scale investigation to pursue criminal responsibility against Akimoto in the near future.
Last month, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Special Investigation Division searched Akimoto's office and other facilities on suspicion of bribery over allegations that Representative Masatoshi Akimoto (48) received a large amount of money from Masayuki Tsukawaki, 64, former president of Japan Wind Power Development, a wind power company in Tokyo, over the offshore wind power generation that the government is aiming to expand the introduction of.
Japan Wind Power Development is aiming to enter Mutsu Bay in Aomori Prefecture and two offshore areas off the coast of Akita Prefecture among the offshore wind power generation projects, and interviews with people involved have revealed that Akimoto is suspected of having received multiple requests from former President Tsukawaki to ask Diet questions that would favor Japan wind power development.
Akimoto repeatedly asked the company not to impose excessive restrictions on the waters off the coast of Aomori Prefecture in 2 due to the impact on defense-related facilities, and asked the company to review the evaluation criteria for bids in February last year after the company failed to win an order for a project off the coast of Akita Prefecture.
It is known that Akimoto received a total of about 2019 million yen from former president Tsukawaki regarding the registration of horse owners of Chuo Horse Racing and the horse owners' association established by the two.
The Special Investigation Department is suspected of providing a large amount of money in return for facilitating Diet questions and other means, and is expected to launch a full-scale investigation to pursue criminal charges against Akimoto in the near future.
According to the people involved, former President Tsukawaki admitted to bribing Representative Akimoto to the investigation by the Special Investigation Department, and made a statement to the effect that the funds provided were "a reward for questions in the Diet."
On the other hand, Representative Akimoto explained to those around him, "I don't know why the expenditure on the horse owners' union is a bribe even though I am also partially paying for it."