In a ruling Wednesday that could eventually oust Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Yuzuru Tsuzuki from the Diet, one of his campaign workers and an aide received suspended prison sentences for violating the election law in October.
The Toyohashi Branch of the Nagoya District Court sentenced Toshihiko Kusano, 53, a former Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, city assembly member and director general of Tsuzuki's campaign headquarters, and Nobumoto Iseki, 29, Tsuzuki's former government-paid secretary, to 18 months in prison, suspended for five years, for promising money to nonregistered campaign workers.
Prosecutors had demanded 18-month prison terms for both Kusano and Iseki.
Iseki plans to appeal the ruling, while a lawyer for Kusano said he would consult his client about whether to appeal.