When a False Report Is Worse Than None
- Share via
TOKYO — In Japan, falsely reporting a political donation that exceeds the legal limit is worse than not reporting it at all.
That became clear Monday as prosecutors issued a summary indictment and imposed a slap-on-the-wrist fine of $1,666 on Shin Kanemaru, 78, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party kingpin, for accepting a $4.1 million political contribution from Sagawa Kyubin, a parcel delivery company.
But for Kiyoshi Kaneko, 60, who received $833,000 from the same company, prosecutors filed an official indictment to bring the former Niigata governor to trial.
Both donations exceeded the legal limit. Kaneko filed a falsified report of the donation he received, while Kanemaru filed no report. Falsifying a report is punishable by up to five years in jail or a fine of $2,500, while the maximum fine for not reporting is $1,666.
The formal conviction, however, threatens to weaken the influence of Kanemaru, Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa’s chief source of support in the ruling party.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
