ID :
83241
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 12:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/83241
The shortlink copeid
Hatoyama says election victory does not wipe clean false-reporting case
+
TOKYO, Oct. 5 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Monday he does not think his party's
landslide election victory in August wiped clean public doubts over his
political funds group's false reporting of financial statements, while
declining to make comments on the issue citing an impact on the ongoing probe
by investigative authorities.
''I understand that people have yet to be convinced by my explanations,
although they let me win the election,'' Hatoyama told reporters in the
evening. ''Still, I don't think the victory means the slate has all been wiped
clean.''
While declining to make any specific comments on the case, however, Hatoyama
said he is willing to cooperate with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors
Office in its investigation, which has already been launched, to fully clarify
the matter.
His political funds management group reported in its financial statements
contributions by deceased people or people who said they never donated to the
body.
In a press conference June 30, Hatoyama admitted there were false donation
entries from about 90 people totaling around 21.77 million yen in political
funds reports for the four years from 2005 to 2008, blaming his former
secretary for the false statements.
The body has since corrected the reports but was found to have subsequently
deleted the names of some real donors.
On Sunday, sources familiar with the case said the body has voluntarily
provided prosecutors its account ledgers for at least the five years to 2008 in
connection with the case.
The prosecutors have already begun questioning on a voluntary basis people who
were falsely reported as donors and plan to decide whether to pursue the case
in court by the end of this year.
The prosecutors opened the investigation after a civic group filed a complaint
in July with the authorities against the prime minister and two other people
involved in the case.
Hatoyama, who leads the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, is expected to face
tough questioning over the case by lawmakers of the opposition Liberal
Democratic Party in an extraordinary session slated to be convened later this
month.
==Kyodo
TOKYO, Oct. 5 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Monday he does not think his party's
landslide election victory in August wiped clean public doubts over his
political funds group's false reporting of financial statements, while
declining to make comments on the issue citing an impact on the ongoing probe
by investigative authorities.
''I understand that people have yet to be convinced by my explanations,
although they let me win the election,'' Hatoyama told reporters in the
evening. ''Still, I don't think the victory means the slate has all been wiped
clean.''
While declining to make any specific comments on the case, however, Hatoyama
said he is willing to cooperate with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors
Office in its investigation, which has already been launched, to fully clarify
the matter.
His political funds management group reported in its financial statements
contributions by deceased people or people who said they never donated to the
body.
In a press conference June 30, Hatoyama admitted there were false donation
entries from about 90 people totaling around 21.77 million yen in political
funds reports for the four years from 2005 to 2008, blaming his former
secretary for the false statements.
The body has since corrected the reports but was found to have subsequently
deleted the names of some real donors.
On Sunday, sources familiar with the case said the body has voluntarily
provided prosecutors its account ledgers for at least the five years to 2008 in
connection with the case.
The prosecutors have already begun questioning on a voluntary basis people who
were falsely reported as donors and plan to decide whether to pursue the case
in court by the end of this year.
The prosecutors opened the investigation after a civic group filed a complaint
in July with the authorities against the prime minister and two other people
involved in the case.
Hatoyama, who leads the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, is expected to face
tough questioning over the case by lawmakers of the opposition Liberal
Democratic Party in an extraordinary session slated to be convened later this
month.
==Kyodo
