TOKYO: Western police carried out new raids on Wednesday (Jul 27) over allegations a 2020 Tokyo Olympics panel member received cash from a sponsor this individual signed a talking to contract with, nearby media reported.
Haruyuki Takahashi, 78, is thought of receiving over US$300, 000 from high street business fit retailer Aoki Holdings, an “official partner” of last year’s pandemic-delayed mega-event.
That could reportedly make up bribery because Takahashi was considered the quasi-civil servant who had been not permitted to simply accept money or presents related to his placement.
Takahashi’s Tokyo home was raided by investigators on Tuesday morning according to reports.
Local media said searches were conducted Wednesday on the home of former Aoki chairman Hironori Aoki, 83, as well as the disbanded Tokyo 2020 organising committee workplace at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The Tokyo Olympics organising committee wound straight down operations last 30 days but it maintains a presence to deal with assets plus liabilities.
The Tokyo prosecutors’ office told AFP it might not comment on person cases.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters the problem was “extremely regrettable” and she would “keep a close eye upon developments”.
“I have told the particular organising committee they should cooperate completely with this investigation, inch she said.
A sports talking to firm run by Takahashi is suspected of receiving money from Aoki to get a contract signed in 2017, according to local media.
Aoki in October 2018 became a Tokyo Games sponsor, allowing it to use the event’s logo design and sell officially certified products.
Takahashi told the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper last week that the money their company received was for consultancy work.
“There was no conflict of interest whatsoever with our position as an arranging committee board member, ” he has been quoted as saying.
Aoki issued a statement last week saying it experienced no comment on reports of the payments.
Takahashi, a former executive at Japan’s biggest advertising agency, Dentsu, served on the Tokyo 2020 board through June 2014.
Former Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto told reporters Tuesday that she would “cooperate fully” with the analysis if instructed to do so.
“Matters such as this coming to light after the fact is very unsatisfactory, ” she stated.
“We need to act in a way that will never tarnish what was accomplished even with the outbreak. ”
The case is not the first time questions have been raised about alleged impropriety throughout the Games.
French prosecutors launched an investigation into allegations associated with corruption linked to Tokyo’s bid for the Games in 2016.
The former head of Japan’s Olympic Panel, Tsunekazu Takeda, stepped down in 2019 as French authorities probed his participation in payments produced before Tokyo was awarded the event.
The Tokyo Olympics opened on Jul 23 last year after an unprecedented one-year delay because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Games were kept in largely clear stadiums after enthusiasts were banned over surging virus bacterial infections in Japan.