OSAKA -- Osaka Prefectural Police on Thursday arrested the chairman of the Osaka City Assembly and two others for allegedly disrupting the smooth execution of bidding for contracts for city-ordered public works projects in 1997.
The three men arrested were named as city assembly Chairman Hajime Amano, 52, 60-year-old Kiyoshi Watabe, president of Osaka-based electricity construction firm Watabe Co., and City Hall worker Seizaburo Kanae, 51, who is currently on loan to an organization affiliated with the city.
Prior to their arrest, investigators searched several locations in connection with the case, including Osaka City Hall.