The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has indicted former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kenzo Muraoka over a political-donation scandal involving the Liberal Democratic Party's largest faction. This seems to confirm the widespread public suspicion that a number of influential members of the faction -- not just the treasurer who was recently arrested -- might have been involved in the coverup of the 100 million yen donation.
Mr. Muraoka, who was the faction's acting chairman at the time, is charged with violating the Political Funds Control Law. However, he was not arrested. This, and the way the donation was made, point out the need to toughen the law. The Diet is duty-bound to make necessary changes to establish transparency in political contributions.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Muraoka conspired with the treasurer, Mr. Toshiyuki Takigawa, to conceal the donation in a 2001 campaign-finance report. Investigations reveal that in July of that year, immediately before an Upper House election, the head of the Japan Dentists Federation, Mr. Sadao Usuda, gave a check for 100 million yen to the faction's chairman at the time, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. Mr. Usuda is also charged with violating the law.