Hatoyama says he won't resign

PM insists he didn't know about aides' questionable fundraising

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama apologized after two former aides were charged yesterday with making false financial reports but refused to step down, saying he did not know about the dubious money.

Prosecutors charged former aides Keiji Katsuba, 59, and Daisuke Haga, 55, with violating laws on political funds, a prosecutors' statement said. The allegedly falsified reports involved nearly 400 million yen ($4.4 million) in contributions.