Tokyo Prosecutors to Indict Ex-Secretary of Hatoyama

Tokyo, Nov. 24 (Jiji Press)--Public prosecutors are believed to be
preparing to indict a former first public secretary of Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama over false reporting of donations to Hatoyama's political fund
management organization.
The amount of donations falsely reported by the organization far
exceeded 200 million yen over the five years to 2008, informed sources said
Tuesday. The former first public secretary was one of those who kept
accounts at the organization.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office is expected to indict
the former secretary without arrest on suspicion of violating the political
funds control law, after the end of the current session of the Diet, or
parliament, slated for Monday.
In interviews with prosecutors, the former secretary has apparently
admitted to the wrongdoing.
The prosecution will decide its action against Hatoyama and a
different former secretary in charge of policy affairs, who was the top
treasurer of the fund management organization, by examining their possible
roles in the false reporting further. The two face a criminal complaint.
At a news conference in June, Hatoyama announced that his
organization has falsely reported 22 million yen in political donations in
income statements over the four years to 2008, including money described as
donations from people who were already dead.
Sources said the organization's statement for 2004 had similar
false records.
After the announcement, false records were also found over
small-lot donations of 50,000 yen or less, for which donors can be kept
anonymous under the political funds control law.
The organization booked income of 178 million yen from such
donations over the five years to 2008. The bulk of the money is believed to
have come from a company managing the assets of the Hatoyama family.
Under the political funds control law, politicians are allowed to
donate only up to 10 million yen to their own political fund management
organizations per year.
Speaking to parliament recently, Hatoyama said the former first
public secretary withdrew an average 50 million yen per year from the
Hatoyama family asset management company over six years to provide the money
to the prime minister's organization.
Hatoyama also acknowledged that he has signed documents authorizing
the former first secretary to withdraw the money from the family firm.
The Hatoyama side claims that the former first secretary engaged in
the wrongdoings independently, denying any roles of Hatoyama or the former
policy secretary in the affairs.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Hatoyama declined to comment on
media reports that the former first secretary is expected to be indicted in
the near future.