House of Representatives member Muneo Suzuki pleaded not guilty Monday to bribery, perjury and falsifying political funds reports.
The charges, constituting four counts, include Suzuki's alleged receipt of 11 million yen in bribes from two Hokkaido firms in return for wielding his political influence in favor of the two companies in 1997 and 1998.
Suzuki, 54, now an independent lawmaker after leaving the Liberal Democratic Party in March, is charged with perjuring himself before a Lower House committee session in June and making false donation statements in 1998.