The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by a Foreign Ministry official found guilty of misusing government funds and interfering in bidding for an aid project for Russia under the influence of Lower House member Muneo Suzuki, according to court sources.
Because the top court's Third Petty Bench turned down the appeal Tuesday, the guilty verdict for Masaru Sato, 49, now stands, the sources said.
Sato, also a best-selling writer, was one of 11 people close to Suzuki who were indicted in connection with the outspoken lawmaker, a convicted bribe-taker.