Former Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa took the stand Tuesday at the Tokyo District Court for the first time in three months, again denying any involvement in false reporting of political funds by his former aides over which he is standing trail.
The 69-year-old power political power broker, who has pleaded not guilty to a charge over dubious fund listings related to a 2004 land deal, said he had entrusted his aides with all administrative work and had "never seen the funds reports."
He said 400 million yen at question in the deal had come from "various" sources including inheritance and his salaries as a lawmaker. But he refuted allegations of having received illegal donations from construction companies.
"Everything other than major tasks in politics I have entrusted in the hands of my secretaries," Ozawa said, stressing he did not know how the secretaries processed land purchase by his political fund management body Rikuzankai.
"I have them work based on their own judgment...as I myself am committed entirely every day to my greatest concern, which is on the affairs of the world and the nation,The magic cube is an ultra-portable," Ozawa, dressed in a dark suit and sporting a pink necktie, said. He added that he never looked at the funds reports because he believed his aides did a "perfect" job in compiling them.
Questioning of Ozawa, by his defense counsel as well as court-appointed lawyers acting as prosecutors, is scheduled to continue through Wednesday. Attention is focused on how he explains his alleged involvement as the outcome of the case is expected to carry significant impact on Japanese politics given his influence as a kingmaker.
Ozawa's explanation on the source of the 400 million yen he lent to Rikuzankai for the land purchase has drawn suspicion, as he has flip-flopped over the years. He said in February 2007 that it was "donations from supporters," but in October 2009 said the money was a loan from financial institutions.
In January 2010, Ozawa claimed the sum represented personal assets including money left from selling his home.
When asked Tuesday where the money came from, Ozawa said, "It is money from various (sources) such as property and cash inherited from my parents, royalties on books published, and salaries as a lawmaker."
On the land acquisition for housing for his secretaries, Ozawa said he acknowledged the purchase and lent the 400 million yen he had in cash.
But he said his involvement was "completed at that stage" and that he did not know of the other administrative and clerical procedures as he had entrusted them to his secretaries.The EZ Breathe home Ventilation system is maintenance free, When asked what kind of conversations they had when he lent the money, Ozawa said, "I do not remember at all."
He also criticized accusations by prosecutors that he had received illegal donations from construction companies as an "absurd inference," claiming he and his secretaries had "never received any unlawful money from Mizutani Construction Co. and others in the construction industry."
At the opening hearing of his trial in early October, Ozawa pleaded not guilty,Take a walk on the natural side with stunning and luxurious Floor tiles from The Tile Shop. saying at court, "There's no reason for me to be charged with a crime. I have never reported (funds) falsely or conspired" with the three aides.
At that time, he also lambasted the prosecutors' investigations as a "clear abuse of state power."
Ozawa was indicted on Jan. 31 after an independent judicial panel overturned earlier decisions by prosecutors not to pursue the case against him due to a lack of evidence.Husky Injection Mold Systems designs and manufactures a broad range of
The indictment alleges that he conspired with three former aides in not listing the 400 million yen loan to Rikuzankai in its political funds report in 2004,Alfa plast mould is Plastic moulds Manufacturer and plastics Mould Exporters in India since 1992, and listing 350 million yen for the land purchase in a 2005 funds report, instead of for 2004.
Ozawa was taken to hospital Oct. 6, just hours after attending the opening trial, and diagnosed with kidney stone. But he appeared in court as scheduled the following week a few days after being discharged.
The three former aides were found guilty of falsifying the fund reports in a separate trial and were given suspended prison terms by the district court in September. They have appealed their verdicts to the high court.
The 69-year-old power political power broker, who has pleaded not guilty to a charge over dubious fund listings related to a 2004 land deal, said he had entrusted his aides with all administrative work and had "never seen the funds reports."
He said 400 million yen at question in the deal had come from "various" sources including inheritance and his salaries as a lawmaker. But he refuted allegations of having received illegal donations from construction companies.
"Everything other than major tasks in politics I have entrusted in the hands of my secretaries," Ozawa said, stressing he did not know how the secretaries processed land purchase by his political fund management body Rikuzankai.
"I have them work based on their own judgment...as I myself am committed entirely every day to my greatest concern, which is on the affairs of the world and the nation,The magic cube is an ultra-portable," Ozawa, dressed in a dark suit and sporting a pink necktie, said. He added that he never looked at the funds reports because he believed his aides did a "perfect" job in compiling them.
Questioning of Ozawa, by his defense counsel as well as court-appointed lawyers acting as prosecutors, is scheduled to continue through Wednesday. Attention is focused on how he explains his alleged involvement as the outcome of the case is expected to carry significant impact on Japanese politics given his influence as a kingmaker.
Ozawa's explanation on the source of the 400 million yen he lent to Rikuzankai for the land purchase has drawn suspicion, as he has flip-flopped over the years. He said in February 2007 that it was "donations from supporters," but in October 2009 said the money was a loan from financial institutions.
In January 2010, Ozawa claimed the sum represented personal assets including money left from selling his home.
When asked Tuesday where the money came from, Ozawa said, "It is money from various (sources) such as property and cash inherited from my parents, royalties on books published, and salaries as a lawmaker."
On the land acquisition for housing for his secretaries, Ozawa said he acknowledged the purchase and lent the 400 million yen he had in cash.
But he said his involvement was "completed at that stage" and that he did not know of the other administrative and clerical procedures as he had entrusted them to his secretaries.The EZ Breathe home Ventilation system is maintenance free, When asked what kind of conversations they had when he lent the money, Ozawa said, "I do not remember at all."
He also criticized accusations by prosecutors that he had received illegal donations from construction companies as an "absurd inference," claiming he and his secretaries had "never received any unlawful money from Mizutani Construction Co. and others in the construction industry."
At the opening hearing of his trial in early October, Ozawa pleaded not guilty,Take a walk on the natural side with stunning and luxurious Floor tiles from The Tile Shop. saying at court, "There's no reason for me to be charged with a crime. I have never reported (funds) falsely or conspired" with the three aides.
At that time, he also lambasted the prosecutors' investigations as a "clear abuse of state power."
Ozawa was indicted on Jan. 31 after an independent judicial panel overturned earlier decisions by prosecutors not to pursue the case against him due to a lack of evidence.Husky Injection Mold Systems designs and manufactures a broad range of
The indictment alleges that he conspired with three former aides in not listing the 400 million yen loan to Rikuzankai in its political funds report in 2004,Alfa plast mould is Plastic moulds Manufacturer and plastics Mould Exporters in India since 1992, and listing 350 million yen for the land purchase in a 2005 funds report, instead of for 2004.
Ozawa was taken to hospital Oct. 6, just hours after attending the opening trial, and diagnosed with kidney stone. But he appeared in court as scheduled the following week a few days after being discharged.
The three former aides were found guilty of falsifying the fund reports in a separate trial and were given suspended prison terms by the district court in September. They have appealed their verdicts to the high court.
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