Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto has indirectly admitted his involvement in a dubious flow of political funds to the faction led by himself. Going back on his previous denial that a 100 million yen check was accepted, Mr. Hashimoto said "it (the alleged acceptance) probably is a fact."

Throughout a closed session on Tuesday of the Lower House Political Ethics Council, however, he denied playing any role in handling the donation from the Japan Dental Association (JDA) in a way that violated the Political Funds Control Law.

The fact that the council meeting allowed only some Diet members to sit in and was not open to the public has fueled public distrust of politics. Rather than promoting an elucidation of the circumstances behind the scandal, it brought the Diet's blatant lack of self-cleansing power into relief. Mr. Hashimoto said he has "no intention" of resigning from the Diet.