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4th farm minister of Japan hit by scandal

Japan's farm minister faced reports of financial irregularities yesterday, the fourth farm minister in two years to be caught up in an expenses scandal, putting new pressure on unpopular Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Farm minister Seiichi Ota, appointed just weeks ago, denied any wrongdoing as the Mainichi newspaper reported his political fundraising group had claimed millions of yen in office expenses, while basing itself at the home of one of his secretaries.