The trial of Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa's chief secretary began in Tokyo District Court on Dec. 18. The secretary is charged with violating the Political Funds Control Law by allegedly falsifying records related to the receipt of ¥35 million in political donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co.
The trial highlights an unusual situation for top leaders of the DPJ. In addition to the trial of Mr. Ozawa's chief secretary, two former secretaries to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama were indicted without arrest last week, also in connection with falsifying records of political donations.
Mr. Ozawa's secretary listed two political organizations, actually made up of Nishimatsu employees, as separate donors of the ¥35 million to Mr. Ozawa's political funds management organization. The prosecution alleges that the secretary did this with the knowledge that the money came from Nishimatsu.