Masanori Arai

Arai submitted a letter of resignation to the Lower House Secretariat on Jan. 17, two days after prosecutors indicated him. He had earlier submitted a letter of resignation to the LDP.

Arai, 48, who represented the No. 8 district in Saitama Prefecture, admitted to having been involved in vote-buying activities, a violation of the Public Offices Election Law, during campaigning for the Nov. 9 general election, according to investigative sources.

A by-election to fill Arai's seat is expected to be held April 25.

According to the indictment, Arai instructed his campaign manager in October to hand out between ¥50,000 and ¥200,000 to 18 people, including senior LDP members and supporters in his constituency, for vote-buying activities such as visiting voters' homes to drum up support.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 24, 2004
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