Ryutaro Hashimoto

The check is viewed as a political donation from the association's political group to Hashimoto's faction in the Liberal-Democratic Party, though the money was not listed in the political funding reports of either side, the sources said.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into this alleged violation of the Political Funds Control Law.

The former chairman, 73-year-old Sadao Usuda, and Hirotake Uchida, 63, the association's former director, gave the check to Hashimoto at a meeting in Tokyo prior to the July 2001 election.

The dental association was then arranging to have former Chairman So Nakahara, a member of the Hashimoto faction, stand for re-election to the Upper House. The money is thought to have been given to Hashimoto in exchange for his faction's cooperation in the re-election bid, the sources said.

Usuda and Uchida, who are under arrest on another charge, were served with fresh warrants July 15 for allegedly embezzling ¥30 million from the industry group. Tokyo prosecutors also arrested former LDP lawmaker Yukihiro Yoshida, 42, the same day for his alleged involvement in the embezzlement.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 24, 2004
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