Kansai Electric Power Co. promoted three executives who received expensive gifts from a former deputy mayor of a town hosting one of its nuclear plants, despite its president receiving anonymous letters objecting to the move, company officials said Friday.
Letters were delivered to President Shigeki Iwane three times from March to June, accusing the three of receiving the gifts and calling on the utility to review their planned promotions to senior positions, the officials said, adding that Iwane read the letters.
The scandal, which broke in September, has cast a renewed spotlight on the shady ties between Japan's nuclear industry and local officials.