A man who received money from former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai to support Kawai’s wife's election campaign told prosecutors he had been tasked with winning votes for her from supporters of an incumbent lawmaker, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.
The man was paid around ¥960,000 ($9,000) by Kawai, 57, to support the campaign of his wife, Anri, in an Upper House election last summer.
In the election, the Liberal Democratic Party had fought for two seats in the Hiroshima constituency by backing both Anri Kawai, 46, and veteran incumbent lawmaker, Kensei Mizote.