The son of former Upper House lawmaker Tatsuo Tomobe was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday for his role in a fraudulent investment scheme operated by his father.
Momoo Tomobe, 34, was in charge of fund management with the Orange Kyosai Kumiai mutual aid society.
The Tokyo District Court found that Tomobe, in collusion with his father, defrauded 35 people out of 665 million yen from 1994 to 1996.
Judge Masazo Ogura said Momoo Tomobe "took advantage of people's desire for higher returns on their assets in times of low interest on bank deposits."
The judge accused the Tomobe family of "utilizing the status of (the father) as a Diet member" to gain the confidence of investors.
Tatsuo Tomobe, who refused to give up his Diet seat until the Supreme Court handed down a final verdict in May, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, while his wife, Mikiko, received a five-year prison term.
Momoo Tomobe was the last of five people indicted in the Orange Kyosai case to receive a court ruling. The four others have been found guilty.
Ogura said the son's responsibility is especially serious because he freely spent investors' money on luxuries such as a racing car.