Prosecutors enter the headquarters of Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. in Tokyo on May 23.

The Tokyo High Public Prosecutor's Office is expected to search about 100 locations connected with 47 companies in line with criminal complaints filed by the Fair Trade Commission against eight firms.

Other companies targeted are JFE Engineering Inc., Kawada Industries Inc., Miyaji Iron Works Co., TTK Corp., Takadakiko Co. and Kurimoto Ltd.

Investigative sources said the senior officials of the eight firms coordinated bid-rigging talks for two groups -- one called K-kai (K-association) for 17 companies, and the other called A-kai (A-association) for 30 companies.

The authorities allege the eight violated the Antimonopoly Law by coordinating talks among the 47 companies in fiscal 2003 and 2004 to allocate most of about 180 contracts worth ¥71 billion for steel-bridge construction orders placed by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry in the Kanto, Tohoku and Hokuriku regions based on their steel use in the preceding five years.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 28, 2005
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