The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Special Investigation Division has asked Akimoto to appear in the House of Representatives, alleging that he was asked multiple times by the former president of a wind power company aiming to enter the offshore wind power generation business to ask Diet questions that would favor the company, and in return he received a large amount of funding. The Special Investigation Department is expected to launch a full-scale investigation on suspicion of bribery on June 7.
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 the offshore wind power generation business such as Mutsu Bay in Aomori Prefecture and the waters off the coast of Akita Prefecture, and according to those involved, Akimoto is suspected of having been asked multiple times by former president Tsukawaki since 2019 to ask Diet questions that would favor Japan wind power development.
In return, Akimoto is suspected of having borrowed approximately 2019 million yen from former president Tsukawaki around March 3 over the registration of Chuo Horse Racing as a horse owner, and approximately 3000 million yen in funding for the horse owners' association established by the two by June.
According to the people involved, the Special Investigation Department has already requested Akimoto to appear and is expected to launch a full-scale investigation on suspicion of bribery on June 6.
Akimoto repeatedly made statements in line with the company's wishes, such as ▽ Diet questions in 2 calling for not to impose excessive restrictions on waters off the coast of Aomori Prefecture due to the impact on defense-related facilities, and ▽ in a Diet question in February last year after the company failed to win an order for a project off the coast of Akita Prefecture, calling for a review of the evaluation criteria for bidding.
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 from the Diet."
On the other hand, Representative Akimoto explained to those around him, "I don't know why spending money on the horse owners' association is a bribe even though I am also partially paying for it."
Akimoto resigned as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on April 3000 after his office was searched by the Special Investigation Department, and subsequently left the LDP.