According to sources, an Akagi support group lists its headquarters as the house of his parents in Ibaraki Prefecture. The group has reported office expenses of ¥123 million between 1990 and 2005.

Akagi denied any wrongdoing.

"I've heard that he has explained (the situation) sufficiently," Abe said, continuing to support Akagi just like he did other ministers who became enmeshed in scandals.

Matsuoka had been under fire for reporting enormous office expenses despite using a rent-free government office building. At that point lawmakers did not have to disclose details of their office expenses. Matsuoka was also under fire in connection with a bid-rigging scandal.

Faced with outrage, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito revised the Political Funds Control Law in an attempt at transparency by requiring politicians' fund-management bodies to itemize all expenditures, excluding personnel fees, of ¥50,000 or more, and to attach receipts.

But because the Akagi scandal does not involve his fund-management body but a support organization, it falls through the cracks in the law.

"We all made the rules regarding political funds and what is important is to obey the rules once they have been decided on," Abe stressed, rejecting the idea of another revision.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 14, 2007
(C) All rights reserved