Japanese lawmaker Akimoto has been released on bail on bribery charges, House of Representatives lawmaker Masatoshi Akimoto, who has been charged with bribery and fraud, was released from Tokyo’s detention center on ¥20 million ($126,000) bail on Thursday.
Akimoto, 48, was arrested on September 7 last year. He denies the allegations, a person familiar with the matter said.
According to the indictment and other sources, he allegedly received approximately 72 million yen in bribes from a former president of a solar energy company around June 2023, after being asked several times by the company’s head to ask questions in parliament that were in be the company’s advantage.
The House of Commons member has also been accused of fraudulently receiving ¥2 million in pandemic relief benefits.
