Muneo Suzuki

Lawyers for Suzuki, once a senior member of the Liberal-Democratic Party, immediately filed an appeal. He was released on ¥70 million bail.

Suzuki, 56, was convicted of conspiring with his policy secretary, Jun Tada, 52, to accept ¥6 million in bribes from construction company Shimada Kensetsu between 1997 and 1998, and ¥5 million in 1998 from timber firm Yamarin. Both companies are based in Hokkaido, from where Suzuki hails.

He was also convicted of falsifying a political funds report in 1998 together with Tada and another secretary, 56-year-old Akira Miyano, by omitting ¥100 million in donations and committing perjury before the Lower House Budget Committee.

Miyano and Tada were convicted and received suspended sentences. They have appealed.

The Japan Times Weekly: Nov. 13, 2004
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