Yutaka Kobayashi KYODO PHOTO

Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Yutaka Kobayashi vacated his Upper House seat over allegations that his accountant tried to cover up illegal payments to election campaigners Sept. 4.

The development comes as another blow in so many days to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the LDP president, after Takehiko Endo resigned as farm minister Sept. 3.

Police suspect that Mika Suzuki, 33, in charge of accounts for Kobayashi, was aware that paying remuneration in return for engaging in campaign activities violated the Public Offices Election Law but still handed out to about 20 campaigners a combined ¥1 million July 29 and on other occasions.

The campaigners were then allegedly told to keep the payments secret, according to investigative sources.