A panel investigating former trade and industry minister Yuko Obuchi's alleged misuse of political funds ruled Monday she had no legal responsibility for the scandal that led to her resignation last year.
Nevertheless, the incident has left a stain. Analysts say the 41-year-old political blue-blood is no longer likely to become the nation's first female prime minister.
The group of lawyers and one accountant who examined Obuchi's books told a news conference in Tokyo they found no evidence that the Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker was involved in — or was even aware of — the falsification of reports by former aides to her political fund management body and three other organizations.