Fresh claims emerge in Tokyo Olympics corruption case

The scandal entails outstanding figures in Japan

A Japanese each day newspaper has reported that the ex-chairman of Tokyo 2020 Olympics sponsor Aoki Holdings, Hironori Aoki, confessed to prosecutors that he handed over 2 million yen ($14,300) in money to the pinnacle of the competitors’s organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori.

Along with ex-member of the Tokyo 2020 board Haruyaki Takahashi and two different executives, Aoki was arrested in August for suspected bribery. 

According to the Sankei each day newspaper by way of Reuters, an individual near the matter defined how Aoki advised investigators that he gave Mori the money throughout two conferences whereas Mori was the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee’s head.  

Mori was Japan’s prime minister for simply over a yr from 2000 to 2001, however he headed the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee from early 2014 till February final yr, when he was compelled to depart his put up on account of an argument began by saying that ladies speak an excessive amount of. 

In 2020, Reuters reported {that a} non-profit run by Mori, a robust determine in Japan’s sporting panorama, acquired over $1 million from the Tokyo Olympic bidding committee in the course of the marketing campaign to win the Games’ internet hosting rights, which Takahashi additionally performed a central half in. 

The non-profit disbanded in December 2020, in keeping with its web site, however a employees member with the institute defined to Reuters that the cash was used to rent an American consulting agency and an additional two consultants to assist the internet hosting bid.

Later on, Mori mentioned that he wasn’t instantly concerned within the funds of the non-profit and was unaware concerning the cash.

As for Takahashi, it’s claimed that he was paid greater than $1 million by Aoki Holdings along with funds made by the style product giants that had been already being seemed into by Tokyo prosecutors.

READ MORE: Ex-Tokyo 2020 board member acquired further funds from Olympic sponsor

Protesting their innocence, Takahashi and Aoki have insisted that there was nothing unlawful concerning the cash.

Also in 2020, Reuters claimed that Takahashi was paid over $8 million from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics bid committee for undisclosed actions in 2013 and 2014.

When approached by Reuters, Takahashi advised them that these actions included lobbying International Olympic Committee (IOC) members. The group’s president, Thomas Bach, has additionally insisted that the funds did not break IOC guidelines.