Former lawmaker Yasutada Ono pleaded not guilty Wednesday over a high-profile political funds scandal involving factions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The first hearing for Ono, 66, a former member of the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, and secretary Yoshiko Iwata, 62, was held at the Tokyo District Court.
"I deeply apologize for causing great political distrust to the people," Ono said before entering his plea. But he added: "There was no collusion of false statements. I am morally responsible, but I have never committed a crime."
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