Former Kimura Construction Co. President Moriyoshi Kimura, a key figure in the building safety scandal, pleaded not guilty Thursday to fraud for allegedly selling a building he knew did not meet earthquake-resistance standards, but admitted to window-dressing.
"I knew that the building had been certified safe," Kimura, 74, said during the opening day of his trial at the Tokyo District Court. "I never tried to deceive anyone to receive money."
Prosecutors said Kimura handed over a finished hotel in Nara Prefecture and accepted final payment despite knowing it didn't have the legally required amount of reinforcement to resist earthquakes.