A former president of Nishimatsu Construction Co. was handed a suspended 16-month prison sentence July 17 for his part in making illegal donations to Diet members and bringing slush funds into Japan without reporting the money to customs.

The Tokyo District Court found Mikio Kunisawa, 70, guilty in the illegal donation of ¥5 million to the former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's political fund management body through two dummy entities between October and November 2006.

The court also said Kunisawa illegally donated ¥3.4 million to a political fund of the Liberal Democratic Party faction led by Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai by purchasing fundraising party tickets between June and July 2006 through two of the firm's dummy entities.