In the trial of Vice Minister of Justice Mizuaki Kakizawa, who is accused of bribery in violation of the Public Offices Election Act in connection with the election for the mayor of Koto Ward in Tokyo, questions were asked about the defendant, and former lawmaker Kakizawa answered many of the questions, saying, I will refrain from giving an answer,'' he said, without providing a specific explanation.
Mizuo Kakizawa (53), a former vice minister of justice who resigned as a member of parliament on the 1st of this month, paid a total of approximately 2.8 million yen in campaign compensation to 10 people, including ward assembly members, over the Koto ward mayor's election in April last year. He was charged with bribery, in violation of the Public Offices Election Act, for providing or offering to provide the same, as well as posting paid advertisements on the Internet calling for votes for former Ward Mayor Yayoi Kimura, and was indicted at his first trial on the 14th of this month. I acknowledge the content.
At a trial held at the Tokyo District Court on the 20th, former lawmaker Kakizawa was asked again if he would dispute the charges against him by prosecutors.He answered, "Yes," and added, "I am sorry that so many people were involved. ” he said.
Afterwards, prosecutors asked questions such as whether the money given to the ward assembly member was meant to be a request for support in the ward mayor's election and why he had changed from denying the charges to admitting the charges. In response, he said, ``I will refrain from giving any answers at this time,'' and did not provide a specific explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The prosecutor also asked, ``I'm sorry for bringing the people around me into trouble, but is there anything you would like to say to the people or voters?'' To this, the prosecutor said, ``I will refrain from answering.'' The hearing lasted about 40 minutes.
The next trial is scheduled to be held on the 1st of next month, when the prosecution will decide on the sentence.