A former policy secretary to Social Democratic Party chief Takako Doi has told investigators that diverting government salaries for lawmakers' aides was a "common practice" among Diet members, police officials said Tuesday.
Masako Goto was arrested last week in connection with a fraud case against former Lower House member Kiyomi Tsujimoto.
"At that time, the practice was so widespread among lawmakers, both in the ruling and opposition camps, that I did not see any particular problem with it," police quoted Goto as saying.