A former Japanese travel agency owner has pleaded guilty to charges of bribery in a bid to build a casino resort.
Kimihito Kamori, 77, former chairman of Kamori Kanko Co admitted guilt in trying to bribe lawmaker Tsukasa Akimoto to get approval for the project.
According to prosecutors at Tokyo District Court, Kamori was in partnership with Chinese firm 500.com to develop the resort in Rusutsu, and paid the lawmaker a total of about $71,000.
It included cash and travel expenses for trips to China and to see the site of the proposed casino resort in Hokkaido.
Akimoto has been charged with accepting bribes and is also accused of directing two officials from 500.com to commit perjury.
Akimoto was arrested in December 2019 and that forced him to stand down from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
At the time he served as Senior Vice Minister in the Cabinet Office, and was responsible for overseeing the government’s plan for introducing integrated casino resorts to the country.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Pacific editor
