OSAKA (Kyodo) The lead counsel for Atsuko Muraki, the senior welfare ministry official acquitted Friday of involvement in abusing the postal discount system for disabled people, says he wants to examine prosecutors' responsibility after the ruling is finalized.
"When the ruling is finalized, I hope to verify why this kind of thing occurred and what responsibility lies with prosecutors," Junichiro Hironaka said during a weekend symposium organized by the Osaka Bar Association.
The prosecutors argued that Muraki, 54, instructed a subordinate to fabricate and issue an official document that enabled an organization to abuse the mail discount system after the group's former chairman asked a lawmaker to speak up for him, but the Osaka District Court found that the lawmaker had an alibi.
"Ms. Muraki was stunned when she realized prosecutors had fabricated a fact that was not true," Hironaka said.