The Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly passed a no-confidence motion Friday against Gov. Tadahiro Ando for his alleged involvement in bid-rigging in public works projects that has led to the arrests of the chief treasurer and other top Miyazaki officials.
Ando will be forced out of office in 10 days unless he resigns or dissolves the assembly.
The no-confidence motion, which was supported by all 40 assembly members present, said Ando hurt the credibility of the prefectural government. "If the governor has no intention to resign, the assembly will urge him to leave," it says.
Ando has refused to step down even after the assembly passed a resolution Wednesday calling on him to quit. He did not state his intention after the no-confidence motion Friday, saying he will "consider carefully what to do."
Meanwhile, police sources said Friday that arrested chief treasurer Takashi Eto has suggested that Ando instructed him to have their deputies rig a bid for public work projects and favor a certain company.
"It was an instruction from my superior," Eto, 63, was quoted as telling police, apparently referring to the 65-year-old governor. Eto was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of involvement in a rigged bid last year.
The sources said Eto's confession helps support the allegation that Ando was behind Eto's instruction to Hiroshi Fujimoto, 59, chief of the prefectural civil engineering division, to rig a bid for project by the local government.
The sources said earlier that Eto allegedly instructed Fujimoto, who is also under arrest, to let Tokyo-based architectural design consultancy Yamato Engineering Inc. get 80 million yen worth of projects.
