Bribery allegations against a former Tokyo Olympics organizing committee member widened Tuesday as Japanese prosecutors “re-arrested” Haruyuki Takahashi in a case involving suspected payments from a publisher which became a sponsor for the Games.
The latest allegations center on 76 million yen ($540,000)
Takahashi received from Tokyo-based publishing company Kadokawa, according to
Tokyo District prosecutors. The sponsorship allowed Kadokawa, which also makes
films and games, to publish programs and other books related to the Tokyo
Olympics.
Also arrested Tuesday were two Kadokawa officials, Toshiyuki
Yoshihara and Kyoji Maniwa, who allegedly deposited the money.
Takahashi has been in detention since being arrested last
month on suspicion of receiving bribes from clothing manufacturer Aoki
Holdings. He was formally charged Tuesday with receiving 51 million yen
($360,000) in bribes from Aoki.
Three Aoki officials were also charged with paying bribes.
The money was deposited into a bank account of Takahashi’s company from October
2017 to March this year, in Aoki’s bid to become an Olympic sponsor and make
licensed products, prosecutors said.
Aoki, which produces “recruit suits” that high school
graduates wear for job interviews, was a surprise pick to dress the Japanese
Olympic team when other nations had top fashion brands designing uniforms.
Kazumasa Fukami, the head of a consulting firm, was arrested
on suspicion of having helped Takahashi receive the bribes.
Takahashi, a former executive at advertising firm Dentsu,
had enormous clout in arranging Olympic sponsorships.
Takahashi left the Dentsu board in 2009, but continued to
wield considerable influence in the advertising and event organizing sector in
Japan and headed his own company.
He has not been available for comment, but some Japanese
media reports quoted Takahashi as asserting his innocence and saying the
payments were for consulting services.
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, Kadokawa’s chairman, who is not directly
implicated in the allegations, denied his company gave any bribes, Japanese
media reported.
On Monday, Tokyo prosecutors raided the offices of Daiko
Advertising in Osaka and Tokyo as part of the investigation into Olympic
corruption. There have been no arrests in the Daiko case.
Kazumasa Fukami, the head of a consulting firm, was arrested
on suspicion of having helped Takahashi receive the bribes.
Takahashi, a former executive at advertising firm Dentsu,
had enormous clout in arranging Olympic sponsorships.
Takahashi left the Dentsu board in 2009, but continued to
wield considerable influence in the advertising and event organizing sector in
Japan and headed his own company.
He has not been available for comment, but some Japanese
media reports quoted Takahashi as asserting his innocence and saying the
payments were for consulting services.
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, Kadokawa’s chairman, who is not directly
implicated in the allegations, denied his company gave any bribes, Japanese
media reported.
On Monday, Tokyo prosecutors raided the offices of Daiko
Advertising in Osaka and Tokyo as part of the investigation into Olympic
corruption. There have been no arrests in the Daiko case.