The Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office's special investigation squad has questioned former lawmaker Akira Ishii on a voluntary basis over an alleged fraud case involving secretarial pay, informed sources said.
Ishii, a former lawmaker of opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai in the Upper House, is suspected of having fraudulently reported a relative as being his public secretary despite the person not having done any actual work for him and cheating the government of money in the form of salaries, according to people familiar with the matter. Ishii, 68, allegedly used the money to cover costs at his office.
The special squad suspects that he has fraudulently received a total of about ¥8 million ($54,300) from the government.
The relative in question, who is related to a social welfare corporation headed by Ishii, has told the special squad that "I have no record of working (for Ishii)."
Ishii's office also appears to have had more than one public secretary with no work records. The special squad is expected to carefully investigate Ishii's possible involvement in the alleged scheme.
Since Aug. 27, the squad has searched several locations related to Ishii, including a building for lawmakers in the Nagatacho political district in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward and his office in the city of Toride, Ibaraki Prefecture, which is his hometown.
Investigators from the special squad have questioned people related to Ishii's office while examining materials seized during the raids.
The Upper House approved Ishii's resignation after he offered to quit on Sept. 1.
Ishii has been expelled from Nippon Ishin.
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