Yuji Sato, brother of Fukushima Gov. Eisaku Sato KYODO PHOTO

Fukushima Gov. Eisaku Sato resigned Sept. 28 following the arrest of his brother and a former senior prefectural government official over the bid-rigging scandal.

The brother, Yuji Sato, 63, and the former head of the local government's civil engineering division Koichi Sakamoto, 65, were arrested Sept. 25.

The two and others allegedly prearranged contractors' bids to help a joint venture between local builder Sato Kogyo Corp. and Tokyo-based contractor Tokyu Construction Co. win the contract by urging other participants to offer higher prices than the joint venture in the bidding in August 2004.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 7, 2006
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