The Tokyo High Court on Tuesday trimmed six months off former Labor Minister Toshio Yamaguchi's four-year prison sentence for fraud and embezzlement.
The Tokyo District Court had sentenced Yamaguchi to four years on March 16, 2000, in connection with loans he procured for highly indebted family-run businesses from Tokyo Kyowa Credit Association and Anzen Credit Bank, both of which failed in December 1994.
Yamaguchi, 62, was convicted of breach of trust, embezzlement, fraud and perjury in connection with the loans and other deals.