Japanese prosecutors consider summary indictment of Abe's secretary and others for violation of the Political Funds Act

"Formal Trial Unlikely to Proceed... Scope Likely Limited to 2016-2019"

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Division, which is investigating allegations that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe provided improper hospitality to local voters through the eve event of the government-hosted "Cherry Blossom Viewing Party," is reportedly considering summary indictment of Abe's official first secretary and office staff on charges of violating the Political Funds Control Act, Asahi Shimbun reported on the 4th.

According to the report, a summary indictment is a procedure where the prosecutor requests the court to impose a fine at the time of indictment, so the accused does not undergo a formal trial. If this happens, the likelihood of former Prime Minister Abe avoiding criminal punishment increases significantly. The first secretary mentioned as the subject of the summary indictment serves as the representative of the "Shinzo Abe Supporters Association," which hosted the eve event, and another office staff member assisted the first secretary by handling accounting tasks.

From 2013 to last year, Abe's side held an eve event inviting personnel from his electoral district, Yamaguchi Prefecture, timed with the government-hosted annual "Cherry Blossom Viewing Party" in April. Although participants paid about 5,000 yen as an entry fee, this amount was far from covering the event costs, raising suspicions that Abe's side compensated for the shortfall.

Asahi, citing sources, reported that the prosecutors are expected to limit the investigation to events held over the four years from 2016 to last year, judging them as violations of the Political Funds Control Act. The prosecutors plan to exclude earlier events from the investigation, considering that the retention period for financial reports held by the election management committee and others has expired.

Accordingly, approximately 30 million yen, which Abe's side is acknowledged to have failed to report in financial statements, including compensation costs and participant fees, will be subject to punishment. The first secretary and office staff reportedly admitted illegality during the prosecution's investigation and stated that they did not report the amounts based on their own judgment.

Asahi conveyed that prosecutors are reviewing the case toward summary indictment, considering their statements and the scale of the unreported amounts. The prosecutors, who have notified Abe of the investigation policy, plan to decide on the summary indictment of his secretariat after completing the investigation of Abe himself. Abe has consistently denied the compensation allegations in responses to the National Assembly and elsewhere.