Toshiyuki Takigawa

Toshiyuki Takigawa, 55, told the Tokyo District Court that he conspired with faction executives in deciding not to report the donation from the Japan Dental Association in the faction's annual funds report for 2001, as required by the Political Funds Control Law.

The faction was headed by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto until he stepped down amid the scandal in July.

Kanezo Muraoka

Prosecutors demanded a 10-month prison sentence.

Takigawa, once a secretary to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, and his lawyers pleaded for leniency, saying he only followed a decision reached by other faction heavyweights -- mainly Muraoka and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka -- to cover up the donation.

Muraoka and Nonaka have denied such allegations, with each claiming the other was in full control of the faction's money flow. But Takigawa told the court that both men must have known about the covert donation.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 4, 2004
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