The Fair Trade Commission filed a criminal complaint Wednesday against 11 oil wholesalers, alleging that they rigged bids on fuel sold to the Defense Agency, in violation of the Antimonopoly Law.
The FTC's move is expected to lead prosecution investigators to raid the firms in connection with the allegations.
The 11 firms are Nippon Mitsubishi Oil Corp., Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., Japan Energy Corp., Cosmo Oil Co., Idemitsu Kosan Co., General Sekiyu K.K., Fuso Sekiyu K.K., Kyushu Oil Co., Kygnus Sekiyu K.K., Taiyo Oil Co. and Taiho Industries Co., FTC officials said. All the firms are based in Tokyo.