OSAKA -- Former Higashi-Osaka Mayor Yukio Shimizu admitted to all charges brought against him in a welfare pension scam and apologized to the city's residents during the first hearing of his trial Friday at the Osaka District Court.
Shimizu, 64, stands accused of illegally obtaining 7 million yen from a welfare pension fund and helping a female friend arrange to falsely register as a resident of the city with the Higashi-Osaka Municipal Government. His action enabled her to illegally receive welfare payments and join a health insurance plan.
He is standing trial along with three others involved in the case. "Because of my wrongdoings, I caused big problems for (Higashi-Osaka) citizens. I sincerely apologize for that," the former mayor said.