The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry took disciplinary action Tuesday against Hokkaido Development Bureau officials for arranging for certain construction firms to rig bids in 1997 and 1998, including one company that allegedly offered bribes to Lower House member Muneo Suzuki in 1998.
The ministry thus effectively admitted that the bureau officials played key roles in systematically rigging supposedly open competitive bids for port-related public works projects in Hokkaido, but only took action after prosecutors revealed the wrongdoing during Suzuki's trial.
In an unprecedented move, the ministry also asked two retired senior officials at the bureau's port department to return part of their retirement money, although the request has no compulsory power because the officials are no longer public servants.