A former Japanese defense official at the center of a damaging influence-peddling scandal acknowledged "inappropriate" ties Oct. 29 with a defense equipment company, but denied trading favors for gifts.

Former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya, who retired in August, said he played golf "more than 200 times" in over 11 years with a former senior official of Yamada Corp., a defense equipment trading company.

He said his wife often accompanied him on golf outings, had received gifts and had been treated to holidays across Japan — breaking a ban on defense officials having contacts with stakeholders under Japanese law.

However, under heated questioning, he flatly denied doing any favors for Yamada in procurement matters.

"I never once pushed for a contract" with Yamada, Moriya said.