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Former Prime Minister Abe Salutes at “Cherry Blossom Viewing Party” in April 2019 = Tokyo Shinjuku Gyoen
The Tokyo District Prosecutor’s Office has abbreviated Mr. Abe’s first public secretary for violating the Political Funds Regulation Act (undeclared) during a dinner hosted by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s political organization the day before “Sakura Viewing Party “. Based on an interview with interested individuals, it was found that they are considering prosecution. It seems that the compensation amount per year of the undeclared amount is not a large amount of 100,000 to 200,000 yen.
In the case of a brief prosecution, the punishment will result in a fine and no formal trial will take place. It will not be clear in public court why Abe made up for the dinner.
The dinner has been held every year at a luxury hotel in Tokyo by the political organization “Shinzo Abe Supporters Association”, represented by the first public secretary, inviting supporters from the local Yamaguchi prefecture since 2013. The quota of Membership of 5,000 yen per person was less than the amount paid, and that Abe recovered about 9 million yen in the five years from 2015 to 2019.
The first public secretary is said to have said: “It should have been included in the Political Funds Balance Report,” after admitting compensation in any interview.
The Department of Special Investigation believes that supporters should have included the full income and expenses from the dinner in their income and expense reports. However, the hotel side received the membership fee collected by Mr. Abe from the participants on the day of the dinner, and it appears that it has not been credited to the account of the sympathizers association.
Although the Special Investigation Department has admitted that Mr. Abe’s long-term compensation is malicious to some extent, the actual number of non-disclosures per year is not great. Since he admits to the charges, he seems to think the fine is adequate.
The Department of Special Investigations asks Mr. Abe himself to listen to the situation voluntarily. After confirming Mr. Abe’s recognition at a voluntary hearing to be held soon, he is expected to make a final decision on criminal sanctions.
