The Tokyo District Court handed a former Foreign Ministry official a suspended prison term Thursday for misusing funds and rigging bids for government aid projects for Russia.
The court sentenced Akira Maejima, 38, formerly in charge of aid projects for Russia, to 1 1/2 years in prison, suspended for three years.
The case is closely linked to House of Representatives member Muneo Suzuki, who allegedly wielded strong, and undue, influence on Japan's diplomatic activities concerning Russia and is being tried separately on bribery and perjury charges.