In the trial of former Deputy Minister of Justice Miyuki Kakizawa, who was charged with bribery in violation of the Public Offices Election Act in connection with the election for the mayor of Tokyo's Koto Ward held in April last year, prosecutors said, ``The power of money is what matters.'' He was sentenced to two years in prison for "ignoring the law."
The defendant (53), former Deputy Minister of Justice who resigned as a member of the Diet in February, paid a total of
approximately 2.8 million yen in campaign compensation to 10 people, including ward assembly members, over the Koto Ward mayoral election held in April last year.
He is charged with bribery, a violation of the Public Offices Election Act
,
for posting paid advertisements on the Internet calling for votes for former ward mayor Yayoi Kimura .
At the March 1 trial, prosecutors said, ``In order to get former ward mayor Kimura elected and solidify his position within the Liberal Democratic Party, he led a plan to bribe ward assembly candidates, and used the power of money to influence the law.'' "The paid advertisement on the Internet has been viewed approximately 890,000 times, and it had a significant impact on the election," he said, demanding a two-year prison sentence.
On the other hand, the defense requested a suspended sentence, saying he had shown remorse.
In conclusion, the former lawmaker said, ``He greatly disappointed the people's expectations and ruined everything he had built. His crime deserves death.''
The verdict will be handed down on March 14th.