2024-03-14 10:19:00
Mizuo Kakizawa, a former deputy minister of justice and former member of the Liberal Democratic Party’s House of Representatives, was charged with violating the Public Elections Act (e.g., bribery) for offering or offering cash to ward councilors during the Tokyo Koto Ward mayoral election held in April last year. (53), the Tokyo District Court sentenced him on the 14th to 2 years in prison, suspended for 5 years (request for 2 years in prison), for a “malicious crime that undermines trust in the foundation of democracy, namely the fairness of elections.” If his sentence is confirmed, his civil rights will be suspended during the suspended sentence, and he will not be able to stand in any elections.
◆2 years imprisonment, 5 years suspension
Defendant Kakizawa Mitsuru
Presiding Judge Katsuko Mukai gave the ruling as a “self-centered case” in which former ward mayor Yayoi Kimura, 58, was indicted for the same crime and was trying to gain an advantage in the election campaign by spending a large amount of money to strengthen her position within the party. He pointed out that he had a “new idea”. She criticized the fact that she actively directed her secretaries to systematically steal the election, which deserves strong criticism and has led to political distrust.
After handing down the sentence, Chief Judge Mukai looked at Defendant Kakizawa and gave him a stern admonition: “Why mightn’t you do something so obvious as to follow the rules? Please go back to the common sense of the people and think carefully.”
According to the ruling, in February last year, Kimura provided a total of 1 million yen to five LDP ward councilors and offered a total of 600,000 yen to three other LDP ward councilors in order to get Kimura elected. They gave 400,000 yen to a woman (36) who was a staff member of the Kimura campaign, and regarding 800,000 yen to defendant Michiya Itatsu (54), a former ward assemblyman. During the April election period, an online video ad calling for votes for Kimura was posted for approximately 370,000 yen. (Nakasangake)
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◆When questioning the defendant, he repeatedly says “I refrain”
“There is no sign that he is deeply remorseful.It has a great negative impact as it causes distrust in politics, including national politics.” Presiding Judge Mukai repeatedly looked sharply at Kakizawa as he read out his verdict.
Kakizawa once proclaimed that he wanted to become prime minister, and even said in court that being a politician was his calling. At trial, he consistently said he would not “contest” the charges once morest him, rather than “admitting” them. During the questioning of the defendant, he repeated the word “withhold” regarding 50 times, making the word “accountability” feel empty.
Asked why he did not answer specific questions, a person close to Kakizawa said, “He probably felt it was strange for him to have the record prepared (by the prosecutors) following his arrest at the end of the year read out in court.” I guess. If that were the case, he might have explained the motive for the crime in his own words, but he did not.
Late last year, I heard this from a female voter in Koto Ward. At a local event, the woman’s daughter, who is in her third year of high school, was seen smiling and talking with defendant Kakizawa. Her daughter was shocked by the incident. She said, “An adult representing the district was breaking the rules. How can she tell her daughter to follow the rules?” Apparently, he felt uncomfortable talking regarding defendant Kakizawa.
Mr. Kakizawa, who grew up in Koto Ward and inherited the position from his father, the late Koji, who served as foreign minister, was elected to the House of Representatives five times. Although he apologized in court, saying, “I let everyone’s expectations down. My crime deserves death,” the seats at the four hearings were conspicuously empty. Many voters were probably left cold by the fact that he did not face the incident until the end. (Masanori Inoue)
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◆If the judgment is final, the joint system will be applied
If the Tokyo District Court’s verdict convicting Kakizawa is finalized, the prosecution will apply the joint-joinder system and file an administrative lawsuit at the Tokyo High Court seeking to invalidate Kimura’s election and ban him from running for the Koto Ward mayor’s election for five years. The ward has begun considering requesting a full refund of the ward’s approximately 12 million yen in compensation, assuming that Kimura’s election is invalidated.
The Public Elections Act stipulates that if an “organized campaign manager” who draws up a campaign plan within a campaign is sentenced to a term of imprisonment or higher, including suspended execution, the candidate will be subject to co-existence.
The ruling on the 14th pointed out that Kakizawa “planned and provided guidance on election strategies and tactics” for the Kimura camp. Prosecutors believe that Kakizawa is an organized election campaign manager.
◆Defendant Yayoi Kimura’s remuneration as ward chief is
In December of last year, the ward ordered the former Osaka city councilor, whose election was invalidated following being found guilty of bribery, to return the full amount of the council member’s compensation at the ward assembly budget review special committee held in February regarding the ward mayor’s compensation paid to defendant Kimura. In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, he said he would “consult with legal experts and carefully consider the matter.” The ward has also withheld payment of approximately 4.62 million yen in severance pay due to Kimura’s suspicion that he gave false answers to the assembly regarding paid advertising.
Kimura was indicted on charges of violating the Public Elections Act, and his first trial will be held in district court on the 18th. (Nakasangaku, Masanori Inoue)
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