A scandal-tainted mutual aid organization for small enterprises made annual payments of up to 200 million yen -- disguised as party membership fees -- to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party from 1991 to 1999, sources familiar with the case said Saturday.

KSD apparently reported the donations as the LDP membership fees for tens of thousands of managers of small and midsize companies that were listed -- without their consent -- as members of the ruling party.

The money was paid via KSD Homeikai -- a welfare cooperative affiliated with the group, the sources said.