Public prosecutors have arrested Tai Yamazaki, a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, on suspicion of conspiring with a broker who has overcharged for mediating low-interest loans for small businesses, prosecutors said.
Yamazaki, who has served as an assemblyman since 1993, is suspected of receiving some 5 million yen from the broker as a reward for using his political influence in the arranging of the loans.
Investigators also suspect that Yamazaki may have used his position to win more than 10 million yen in loans for his own printing company with the backing of a public loan guarantee body.