The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday barred Hiroshi Kumagai, former leader of the now-defunct New Conservative Party, from running for a House of Representatives seat from his Shizuoka No. 7 constituency for five years because an aide was found guilty of buying votes in the November general election.
Kumagai's "guilt-by-association" ruling is in line with prosecutors' demands for the ban after his former secretary, Tatsuya Hidaka, was sentenced to a suspended 18-month prison term in January for violating the Public Offices Election Law.
Kumagai lost the election and subsequently stepped down as head of the NCP, which at the time had been a component of the ruling coalition. He indicated afterward he would retire from politics.
According to the high court, Hidaka deposited 1 million yen into the bank account of election campaigner Kim Tae Hyong on Nov. 7, two days before the Lower House election. Kim received a suspended 12-month prison term in the case.
Hidaka stood accused of having Kim distribute handbills defaming Kumagai's chief rival in the constituency.
Presiding Judge Kimio Miyazaki ruled Wednesday that Kumagai is "guilty-by-association," a clause under the election law whereby a candidate is banned from running for office for five years if a campaign aide is handed a prison sentence for election law violations.
The court also took note of the fact that Kumagai, 63, owned up to all the facts of the case as presented by prosecutors.
He was first elected to the Diet in the House of Councilors election of 1977. On Wednesday, he issued a statement saying that he takes the high court ruling seriously and said he feels a strong sense of responsibility for the incident. He also reiterated his gratitude for all those who had supported him through the years.
Information from Kyodo added
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