Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Ex-aides to Japan's PM charged in funding scandal
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Ex-aides to Japan's PM charged in funding scandal
By YURI KAGEYAMA,Associated Press Writer -
Friday, December 25
Send
IM Story
Print
TOKYO – Two former aides to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama were charged Thursday with falsifying reports of campaign contributions _ dashing the promise of the leader who vowed to usher in a new, cleaner era in the country's politics.
Hatoyama bowed deeply at a hastily called news conference, apologizing for the misdeeds of the aides, whom prosecutors accuse of listing dead people as donors to hide the source of some money, as well as underreporting some donations.
Hatoyama rose to power this August partially on the promise that he would end the corruption scandals that many had come to expect of the Liberal Democrats, who ruled the country for most of the past 50 years. His popularity has already begun to wane just 100 days into his tenure, but he refused to resign.
The economy is struggling, and many are not reassured by his recovery plans. His policies to aggressively curb greenhouse gas emissions have alienated corporate circles, and voters are disappointed by his party's flip-flop on key campaign issues, including lowering taxes, providing cash payments for families with children and relocating a major U.S. military base.
Still, analysts said the scandal was unlikely to do in the government _ at least for now.
Prosecutors charged former aides Keiji Katsuba, 59, and Daisuke Haga, 55, with violating laws on political funds. The allegedly falsified reports involved nearly 400 million yen ($4.4 million) in contributions, according to a statement from prosecutors.
Hatoyama, who does not face charges, acknowledged he had received 15 million yen ($170,000) a month from his mother to support his political activities, but he said his aides had handled the money and he did not know about the contributions until the prosecutors' investigation.
He said he would pay back-taxes and penalties of more than 600 million yen ($6.7 million), dating back to 2002.
"I am not sure if this is something that people can understand, but I hope I can gain your understanding," he said. "If there is a big cry for Hatoyama to quit, then I will respect that. But I will work hard to avoid that."
Kyoko Nakatani, a 45-year-old office worker, was outraged.
"I can't accept the prime minister's explanation. How can someone who has no control over his own finances hope to steer the country?" she said. "I don't think he has what it takes to be prime minister."
Sadakazu Tanigaki, head of the Liberal Democrats, now an opposition party, lashed out at Hatoyama, demanding his resignation.
"This makes a mockery of hardworking taxpayers," he said. "He should promptly take political responsibility."
Other lawmakers said they were incredulous a prime minister would not know what his aides were doing. Calls could rise, even among Hatoyama's fellow Democrats, for new leadership ahead of upper house elections expected next year.
"Lots of observers are saying Hatoyama has not been up to par," said Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies at Temple University in Tokyo.
"But I think it's far too early," he said of the possibility Hatoyama may be deposed.
Although some prime ministers were exceptions, like the popular Junichiro Koizumi, such scandals were fairly common under the Liberal Democrats, many involving payments from construction and other companies suspected of trying to secure public works projects and curry favors.
Many blamed corruption on the almost total control the Liberal Democrats wielded _ ruling nearly uninterrupted since World War II _ and had hoped to change it by bringing a new party to power.
Hatoyama, while an opposition legislator, had criticized ruling party politicians who had blamed their aides for scandals, and had demanded they resign.
Cab driver Akio Matsumoto said Hatoyama was beginning to look a lot like his predecessors.
"Just like all the other politicians, Hatoyama blamed everything on his aides. He's no different from them," said Matsumoto, 59.
Still, some shrugged it off.
"Every politician has money scandals," said 30-year-old businessman Takayuki Ota.
___
Associated Press Writer Shino Yuasa contributed to this report.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Thai PM tries to calm protest over Hmong return AP - 1 hour 35 minutes ago
Pakistani Christians fearful this Christmas AP - 2 hours 14 minutes ago
Tsunami recovery: numbers tell the tale AP - 2 hours 17 minutes ago
Officials: Suicide bomber kills 5 in NW Pakistan AP - 2 hours 17 minutes ago
Some struggles, a lot of hope, for tsunami orphans AP - 2 hours 19 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Officials rap Eurostar, Eurotunnel over Channel shutdown
US durable goods up 0.2%, led by computers
US jobless claims dip to 15-month low
Bethlehem fetes Christmas in the shadow of a wall
Greek parliament adopts 2010 crisis budget
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Watchmaker 'stands with Tiger' amid new cheating reports
British priest defends urging people to shoplift
Parents in 'Balloon boy' hoax jailed
European travellers battle new Christmas chaos
British experts devise Christmas cracker formula
More Most Viewed »
Tiger's wife Elin seeking divorce: reports
Century-old butter found in Scott's Antarctic hut
Virgin unveils spaceship to offer space tourism
Brazilian confesses to sticking needles into two-year-old
Tiger Woods' girlfriend apologizes in TV interview
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 25 December 2009 Iraq attacks kill scores on eve of Christmas, Ashura
Officials rap Eurostar, Eurotunnel over Channel shutdown
Iran security clashes with cleric mourners: website
|
US-TECH Summary
U.S. military to scrap pregnancy punishment
Pilgrims crowd Bethlehem on warm Christmas eve
|
Follow Santa Claus, courtesy Google and NORAD
Israeli PM asks opposition leader Livni to join govt
US durable goods up 0.2%, led by computers
US jobless claims dip to 15-month low
Suicide bomber in southern Afghanistan kills eight: police
U.N. assembly condemns Myanmar rights record
|
Threats, Ashoura bring blue Christmas in Iraq
Chavez threatens to expel Toyota carmaker
|
Blasts kill 27 Iraqis before solemn Shiite holiday
Suicide car bomb kills 8 in Afghan south
|
German Protestant leader calls for Afghan pullout
|
Iran bans memorials for cleric in wake of violence
Two-time Venezuelan president Caldera dies at 93
|
Attacks kill at least 23 across Iraq
Apple shares hit new high on tablet excitement
|
Doomed China restaurant hires live-in protester
No time for Christmas for US troops in Afghan east
Sex offender charged in Md. girl's disappearance
Ex-aides to Japan's PM charged in funding scandal
Afghan police: Suicide bomb kills 8 in Kandahar
Massive storm disrupts last-minute holiday travel
China signals no clemency for British drugs mule
Donor walks into motel, rents rooms for homeless
Report: NKorea lauds soldiers who nabbed reporters
LA sees 10 percent drop in violent crime in 2009
Indonesian police arrest top militant's relative
Carbon monoxide suspected in 9 Pa. YMCA illnesses
Police arrest terrorist Noordin's father-in-law
U.S. Senate passes landmark healthcare overhaul
Indian committee recommends autonomy for Kashmir
Prisons: Madoff had dizziness, high blood pressure
US Senate passes 'historic' health reform bill
EMTs say they weren't asked to examine ill woman
China to execute five more for Xinjiang unrest
US dad flies home with son after Brazil custody win
Japan skaters face rich gold bonus
Pakistan's forex reserves rise to $13.72 billion
A Minute With: Daniel Day Lewis on Nine
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
A Minute With: Daniel Day Lewis on "Nine"
Singer Feliciano protests 'Feliz Navidad' parody
Tennis champ Djokovic to play Yugoslav king on TV
Michael Moore, Jeff Garlin announce MI comedy fest
Netanyahu asks Livni to join Israeli government
Classic books to US rock: Medvedev's private passions
Pope dragged to floor but unharmed at Mass incident
|
Apple up sharply on tablet computer reports
Saab to shut as GM won't consider Spyker bid: report
Bin Laden's daughter "in Saudi embassy in Tehran"
Twitter buys geolocation startup Mixer Labs
China jails dissident Liu Xiaobo for 11 years
|
Medvedev pledges Russian prison overhaul
Iran police clash with dissident cleric's mourners: website
Pilgrims crowd Bethlehem on warm Christmas eve
|
Deadly storm snarls holiday travel in central US
Suicide bomber in southern Afghanistan kills eight: police
Japan PM under fire over budget scandal
|
U.N. website details peacekeeper sex abuse claims
|
Venezuela's Chavez threatens to oust Toyota
|
Tsunami early warning must start at community level
|
Black pioneer journalist Dale R. Wright dies in NY
Senate OK's health care bill in victory for Obama
Huge US storm curtails Christmas celebrations
Donkeys escape from live nativity scene in Colo.
Official: Pakistan army kills 9 militants in NW
Obama asked to halt wild-horse roundup in Nevada
SKorea-Japan territorial dispute flares anew
Coast Guard suspends NJ search for 2 Va. fishermen
Japanese, Chinese historians fail to bridge differences
Taliban bomb schools in NW Pakistan
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 859
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Rescuers hunt for missing in Philippine ferry sinking
China's Zhang Yimou back with Coen brothers remake
China dissident jailed for 11 years for subversion
Japan PM under fire on scandal as govt drafts budget
China dissident gets 11 years in prison: lawyer
China revises '08 economic growth
Toyota to recall 43,000 cars in China
Japan jobless rate up in November, prices fall
Taiwan dollar up in holiday trade, c.bank eyed
Taiwan keeps certificate of deposit rates unchanged
Japan's jobless rate rises to 5.2 percent in November: govt
Geely's Volvo bid highlights China's global car ambition
Brittany Murphy funeral service set for Thursday
India to boost warship production: official
Japanese buy Mexico power plants for 1.2 billion dollars
Bank of Japan ready to 'to act swiftly'
It's Complicated: a man's film in a woman's world
|
Merge Records: 20 years of glorious noise
|
Patriarch calls for peace as Bethlehem rocks Christmas
New fees stain welcome mat for filmmakers in NYC
Some struggles, a lot of hope, for tsunami orphans
Merge Records: 20 years of glorious noise
"It's Complicated": a man's film in a woman's world
More Bolivar, fewer presents for Christmas: Chavez
Asian Film Awards to honour director Zhang Yimou
Grinches robbing US poor at Christmas
Pope inaugurates Christmas creche
Brittany Murphy funeral service set for Thursday
Virgin Mary sighting a glimpse of hope for Egypt Christians
Five dead in Germany house fire
Britain's queen calls 2009 difficult year
|
Palestinian groups claim killing Israeli in West Bank
Palestinian groups claim killing Israeli in West Bank
|
New Taliban video shows captive US soldier
Tug grounds on same reef as Exxon Valdez tanker
Animal welfare victories prompt farmers to change
Pakistan police: Americans may face terror charges
NJ dad rejoices in return of son held in Brazil
Crew of NKorean weapons plane jailed 12 more days
Pregnant soldiers in war zone won't be punished
Boston cardinal wants help for older, sick priests
Philippines halts operations of boats that crashed
SKorea-Japan territorial dispute flares anew
China defends role at Copenhagen
Indian Kashmir Christians pray for peace
Gifts bring Christmas cheer to Filipino evacuees
Thailand firm on Hmong return despite US, UN calls
Christmas Eve funeral for Brittany Murphy
Japan unveils record $1 trillion budget
China stocks mixed on new share sales
Panasonic develops more powerful battery for EVs
China revises up 2008 economic growth
Small, private funeral held for Brittany Murphy
British dishes tickle French taste-buds
Christmas Eve funeral for Brittany Murphy
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights