Bribery Claims Push Japanese Solon To Quit

Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Masatoshi Akimoto is under fire for allegedly receiving bribes from a wind power company, prompting Tokyo prosecutors on Friday to search his offices and leading him to resign as parliamentary vice foreign minister, Kyodo News reported.

Photo Insert: Prosecutors searched the offices and home of Akimoto over allegations he received bribes amounting to tens of millions of yen from the Tokyo-based wind power company Japan Wind Development Co.

Akimoto's resignation from the governmental post is a blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and comes as approval ratings for his Cabinet have recently dipped due largely to issues surrounding the trouble-plagued national identification card system.

The Foreign Ministry said in a press release that Akimoto had made a "request" to resign as parliamentary vice foreign minister, without providing a specific reason.

Prosecutors searched the offices and home of Akimoto over allegations he received bribes amounting to tens of millions of yen from the Tokyo-based wind power company Japan Wind Development Co.

They have also questioned the president of the company over bribes allegedly paid to Akimoto, who is serving his fourth term as a House of Representatives lawmaker, sources close to the matter said.

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