Japan Olympic Chief Reiterates Innocence in Alleged Bribery

Tokyo, Jan. 15 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda on Tuesday claimed his innocence once again in an alleged bribery case over Tokyo's successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. Takeda, 71, told a press conference that the payments in question to a consulting firm by the Tokyo Games bid committee, which was headed by him, were made "based on proper approval procedures" and that they were "fair compensation." At the same time, Takeda said, "I feel very sorry for the fact that this fuss may have an impact on the Olympic movement." The press conference, held in Tokyo, lasted only about seven minutes. The JOC did not accept questions on the grounds that the case is under investigation by French authorities. On Friday, French authorities said they have opened a full-fledged investigation into whether to indict Takeda on bribery charges. The French investigation is focused on payments of some 220 million yen by the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics bid committee to Singaporean consulting firm Black Tidings in 2013. The company has close ties with a son of a former voting member of the International Olympic Committee. An investigation team set up by the JOC in 2016 has concluded that there was no illegality in the contract for the payments. Takeda has consistently denied wrongdoing. He said in Tuesday's press conference that French authorities conducted a hearing with him in December last year. "By fully cooperating with French authorities, I'll do my best to prove my innocence," Takeda said. French authorities have launched procedures for a preliminary hearing judge to determine whether to indict Takeda. The IOC's Ethics Commission has conducted a hearing with Takeda via teleconference over the alleged bribery case. Japanese Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Masahiko Shibayama told a separate press conference on Tuesday that he wants Takeda to fulfill accountability so as to dispel bribery suspicions. END