The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly said Wednesday it will set up a special committee legally empowered to investigate Gov. Naoki Inose after his numerous flip-flops in explaining a shady loan he received from the Tokushukai medical group.

Inose was grilled for a total of 20 hours over four days in the past two weeks by a committee in the assembly. In the course of the questioning, he backtracked on remarks several times, triggering protests from the assembly and casting doubts on the credibility of his story.

By setting up the special committee in line with the Local Autonomy Law, Inose or any party called to testify before the committee could be fined or charged for refusing to testify or for committing perjury.