Indictment Leads to Resignation of Manabu Horii as Tamayo Marukawa and Others Avoid Charges Due to Inexplicable Standards

On August 29th, in the political fund party slush fund case involving the Liberal Democratic Party faction, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Special Investigation Division decided not to prosecute four individuals: Senator Seiko Hashimoto, Senator Tamayo Marukawa, Representative Kiyoshi Odawara, and Representative Taku Otsuka, who had been criminally accused of violating the Political Funds Control Law.

The Special Investigation Division also decided not to prosecute the accountants of the political groups associated with these legislators. On social media, 

“Hey, what’s this! They’re not prosecuting them? Strict on the public, lenient on the powerful.”

“Too lenient!”

Leading to widespread dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, former Representative Manabu Horii, who was affiliated with the Liberal Democratic Party, was summarily indicted by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Special Investigation Division for illegally distributing condolence payments, in violation of the Public Offices Election Law. Additionally, Horii was also summarily indicted on August 29 for violating the Political Funds Control Law by failing to report slush funds channeled from the Abe faction in his financial statements. Horii has resigned from his position as a legislator.

In response, there are growing questions about the Special Investigation Division’s approach, with comments such as:

“Unclear standards.”

“Did they strike a deal with Horii, Prosecutors?”

These comments reflect skepticism about the Special Investigation Division’s handling of the cases.

“Former Prime Minister Abe extended the retirement age of Hiroshi Kurokawa, the Tokyo High Court Prosecutor General he was close to, through a cabinet decision in 2020. There were suspicions that this decision might have been influenced by allegations of violations of the Public Offices Election Law concerning the provision of expenses for a dinner party at the ‘Cherry Blossom Viewing Party’ hosted by the Prime Minister. The Attorney General and Prosecutor General are appointed by the Cabinet and certified by the Emperor, which effectively means the Liberal Democratic Party government controls prosecutorial personnel decisions. However, to avoid the appearance of collusion, there is a growing view that the party has made Manabu Horii a scapegoat by indicting him while letting others go uncharged,” reported a journalist from a national newspaper.

While it is clear that Horii’s illegal actions should be prosecuted, it is equally important that the legislators involved in the slush fund scandal be prosecuted for failing to report these funds. The criticism that merely amending financial reports without further penalty is too lenient is certainly valid.

 

 

 

In January of this year, TBS independently reported that about 500 million yen in slush funds from the Abe faction had been amassed over five years, with an additional 80 million yen being siphoned off. It was also revealed that around 5 million yen was directed to the camp of former Minister of Education, Shimomura, and 7 million yen to the camp of former Minister of Olympics, Marukawa. Footage of Marukawa maintaining silence and evading reporters was also broadcasted.

In 2010, Marukawa, in response to the then-Democratic Party government’s promotion of child allowances, remarked:

“Fools!”

“These idiots who made this foolish choice.”

The footage of her hurling strong criticism, including calling the then-Democratic Party government “fools” and “idiots” for promoting child allowances, left a deep impression, but now that the situation involves her, Marukawa has become notably “docile.”

“It is the case that prosecutors are not required to publicly disclose the reasons for their decisions not to prosecute. In other words, it means that with just the discretion of the prosecutors, criminals can be left unchecked in society. Takafumi Horie, who was indicted for financial statement falsification in the past, is always outraged about this, but it is clear that prosecutors have too much power in this country. With the LDP presidential election approaching and the possibility of a dissolution of the House of Representatives, the damage from prosecuting slush fund politicians one after another would be too great. There is a sense of some ‘backstage dealings,’ but ultimately, the truth remains shrouded in darkness,” said a political reporter from a television network.

Politicians are protected by power and do as they please. However, we must not forget that it is the people who elect these politicians.