Former member of the House of Representatives Mizuto Kakizawa has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for five years, for violating the Public Offices Election Act in connection with the election for mayor of Tokyo's Koto Ward held in April last year. According to the provisions of the Public Offices Election Act, former Rep. Kakizawa's civil rights will be suspended for five years and he will be unable to stand in any elections.
Mito Kakizawa (53), a former deputy minister of justice who resigned as a member last month, provided approximately 2.8 million yen in campaign compensation to 10 people, including ward assembly members, for the Koto Ward mayoral election in April last year. On the 14th of this month, he was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for five years, on charges of bribery, in violation of the Public Offices Election Act, for posting paid advertisements on the Internet calling for votes for former Koto Ward Mayor Yayoi Kimura. He was sentenced for a year.
According to the Tokyo District Court, the guilty verdict was finalized on the 21st.
The deadline for filing an appeal was the 28th of this month, but both former Rep. Kakizawa and the prosecution appear to have waived their right to appeal.
Now that the ruling has become final, former Rep. Kakizawa's civil rights will be suspended for five years and he will be unable to run for office in any election, according to the Public Offices Election Act.