A former secretary general of the Nagasaki prefectural chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party was arrested Wednesday over suspected illegal campaign donations, prosecutors said.
The Nagasaki District Public Prosecutor's Office said Goro Asada, a 65-year-old former member of the prefectural assembly, is suspected of illegally asking construction companies with public works contracts with the Nagasaki Prefectural Government to make political donations in connection with the gubernatorial election in February 2002.
The LDP backed incumbent Gov. Genjiro Kaneko in the election, and investigation authorities determined that the funds provided to the chapter at Asada's request were intended for the party's gubernatorial campaign.