Former Japanese justice minister, wife arrested over alleged election law violation

Former Japanese justice minister Kawai Katsuyuki and his lawmaker wife Anri Kawai have both been arrested by prosecutors over an alleged violation of the election law, local media said Thursday.

Kawai, a member of the lower house of parliament, and his wife are suspected of buying votes in the upper house election last July in which Anri Kawai won her seat in the poll, in violation of the Public Offices Election Law.

The previous day, the two Japanese lawmakers embroiled in the scandal asked for their membership to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to be withdrawn.

The letters of resignation tendered by the Kawais were accepted by the LDP.

Despite the weighty allegations against them, the pair have said they do not intend to give up their seats in parliament.