The Tokyo District Court on Tuesday found former lawmaker Yasutada Ono not guilty of part of his alleged failure to report some political funds in a high-profile slush fund?scandal involving factions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Presiding Judge Yasushi Fuke handed down a fine of ?600,000 to the former member of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, and a fine of ?200,000 to Ono＊s former policy secretary, Yoshiko Iwata. Prosecutors had demanded a fine of ?1.5 million for Ono, 67, and ?500,000 for Iwata, 62, while the defense side had argued that they were not guilty, saying that the unreported funds were deposits.
A total of 12 people, including four former lawmakers, have been charged in the slush fund?scandal. It is the first time that a ruling has been issued in a trial for a former lawmaker over the matter.
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