Japanese MP Tsukasa Akimoto arrested for allegedly taking bribes from Chinese casino operator

Akimoto was in charge of overseeing the government’s policy on introducing casinos. He stands accused of receiving US$33,800 in bribes

Japan has recently legalised casinos to be operated at integrated resorts in the hope of attracting more foreign tourists to invigorate the economy

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As a senior vice-minister at the cabinet office for about a year until October last year, Akimoto was in charge of overseeing the government’s policy on introducing casinos. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 11:52am, 25 Dec 2019Updated: 11:55am, 25 Dec 2019

Japanese prosecutors arrested a ruling party lawmaker on Wednesday on suspicion of receiving 3.7 million yen (US$33,800) in bribes from a Chinese gambling operator.

Tsukasa Akimoto, a 48-year-old House of Representatives member of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying he has never done any favours for the company.

The prosecutors also arrested three people on suspicion of providing bribes to Akimoto.

The arrest of Akimoto, who was in charge of developing the government’s so-called integrated resort project policy that will allow casinos to be introduced in Japan alongside large hotel and conference facilities, may affect the policy aimed at buoying the economy.

The case, brought by Tokyo prosecutors, is just the latest in a spate of money and gift-giving scandals that have hit the Abe administration, costing two cabinet ministers their jobs.