Japanese prosecutors seek to question former PM Abe over party costs

Japanese prosecutors are seeking to question former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on suspicions that his political group covered part of the party costs for his supporters during the time of his leadership, a practice that may violate the political funds control law, local media reported Thursday.

Abe's supporters used to hold parties from 2013 to 2019 on the nights before Abe's annual cherry blossom viewing events at Tokyo hotels. Sources close to the matter said that each attendee was charged 5,000 yen (48 U.S. dollars), even though such events held at five-star hotels normally cost around 11,000 yen (105 U.S. dollars).

It is suspected that Abe's side covered the gap in money. According to the sources, total revenues and costs not declared in his political fund reports may exceed 40 million yen (383,000 U.S. dollars).

The prosecutors have decided to build a case against one of Abe's secretaries for allegedly not recording incomes and expenditures related to the parties, said the sources.

Abe, who stepped down for health reasons in September, has repeatedly denied his side paid the shortfall, saying that all the expenses of the parties were paid by the attendees themselves.

Speaking to reporters at the parliament on Thursday, Abe said he "has not heard about" the prosecutors' request to question him.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)