Minister, aides accused of peddling influence
Japanese Economics Minister Akira Amari said on Thursday he is investigating accusations that he and his aides took bribes from a construction company but that he was confident he had not done anything wrong.
The magazine Shukan Bunshun published an article on Thursday accusing Amari and his aides of accepting money from a construction company in exchange for helping that company receive government compensation for disputes over land ownership and waste removal at a public works site.
The publication said an official at an unidentified construction company admitted passing $102,960 to Amari and his aides who then allegedly helped the company negotiate with the Urban Renaissance Agency, a government-affiliated property developer, to settle the claims.
