The semi-governmental housing corporation at the center of the scandal that forced Akira Amari to step down as economic minister has denied that his secretaries pressured it to favor a Chiba construction firm in a dispute, contradicting the magazine that broke the story.

The weekly Shukan Bunshun last month quoted Takeshi Isshiki, an employee of the unidentified company, as saying he provided money in exchange for Amari's two secretaries to exert pressure on the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) to settle compensation disputes over a redevelopment project in Chiba Prefecture.

In response, UR disclosed memos late Monday written by UR staff during 10 meetings with four secretaries, including the two in question, at Amari's office from June 2013 through last month.