Yamaguchi Deputy Gov. Kazuhiko Komatsu was referred to prosecutors Thursday on suspicion of illegally recruiting supporters for Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi over the October general election, police said.
Komatsu allegedly solicited multiple prefectural government officials to join the political support group of Hayashi, who became the foreign minister after winning the House of Representatives election.
The country's election law prohibits civil servants from engaging in election campaigns, including such solicitation. The local police also similarly referred two senior officials of the Yamaguchi Municipal Government for alleged violation of the law.