Prosecutor's classified files shed light on high-profile Lockheed scandal
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Documents left by the late chief prosecutor in the high-profile Lockheed bribery scandal 50 years ago revealed Thursday statements ma
Documents compiled by Chief Prosecutor Yusuke Yoshinaga 50 years ago in the high-profile Lockheed bribery scandal in Japan provide insight into how money flowed to politicians, according to a prosecutor's files unveiled Thursday. The classified files, stamped "top secret," detail the flow of money from Lockheed Corp. to Japanese officials, involving former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka and All Nippon Airways Co. The documents, stamped with a creation date of "51/9/7," include testimony from Noboru Takeshita, Tanaka's close aide, who was arrested for receiving 500 million yen from Lockheed.
Despite his claims of innocence, Tanaka was convicted in his first and second trials and died while appealing his sentence in 1993. The prosecutor's files also revealed politician Noboru Wakasa's admission of paying 1 million yen to Takeshita as "slush funds" for election expenses. The files further detail allegations of political interference, including an attempt to block Japan Airlines from introducing jumbo jets on domestic routes through a senior transport ministry official.
If made public, the documents could have significantly impacted the Liberal Democratic Party and altered Japanese politics.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
