Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kentaro Sonoura resigned as a lawmaker on Wednesday after being accused of underreporting political funds, delivering a fresh blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of a string of local elections next spring.
Sonoura voluntarily submitted to questioning by prosecutors after being suspected of underreporting some ¥40 million ($303,000) collected through fundraising parties, sources close to the matter said.
The fifth-term House of Representatives member gave a letter of resignation to Hiroyuki Hosoda, the Lower House speaker, earlier in the day after coming under intense pressure due to the allegations. He also left the ruling party.