Koko Sato, a veteran Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker convicted in the Lockheed payoff scandal, is expected to resign as director general of the Management and Coordination Agency on Sept. 22 when he meets with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.

Amid growing criticism from the LDP's two non-Cabinet allies and opposition parties, as well as from within the LDP itself, LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato paid Sato a visit at his agency late Sept. 19 to discuss the crisis.

Sato told Kato that he has been thinking about whether his position will distract the upcoming Diet session and the administrative reform process, and wants to meet Hashimoto on Sept. 22 to tell him his decision on the matter, Kato said at a press briefing after the meeting. Sato also told Kato that he would make a decision in a way that would not cause trouble, indicating he may step down voluntarily.