Japan Highway Public Corp. President Haruho Fujii blasted transport minister Nobuteru Ishihara in a hearing Friday for trying to sack him for what he called political motives.
Fujii, 67, now considered a cornered mouse over Japan Highway's alleged attempts to hide its debt-ridden finances, was given an opportunity at the hearing to fight Ishihara's move to fire him from the firm's top post. Fujii claimed his human rights were being infringed upon.
The one-day hearing was held in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Law as part of the dismissal process for Fujii. The hearing itself has no legal binding on Ishihara's decision to sack Fujii next Monday.