The National Police Agency said Monday that 17 people were arrested during the upper house election campaign period for violating electoral laws.
TBS quoted an NPA official as saying that offenses included posting false information about candidates on the Internet, voting more than once by using fake names and destruction of property by tearing up campaign posters.
Regarding use of social media in campaigning for the first time, the NPA said no cases of fraud were found, although 23 alerts were reported.
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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hereforever
Cover up! So did the LDP really win? I'm sure nothing will come of this as the LDP now has full control of the country.
oedo1
@hereforever
Are you assuming it was LDP supporters that were arrested? Sorry, but the article doesn't tell us anything. Could well have been dejected DPJ candidates that were out tearing up posters...
gaijintraveller
Posting false information about candidates on the Internet.
Could this be why Kan is suing Abe?
Citizen2012
You simply cannot trust anything or any institution nowadays in Japan. There is ALWAYS report of fraud after election in Japan so much for the credibility of the democracy. Maybe if first japan would start to declare Yakuza gang illegal it will be a good steps for cleaning the country.
Bartholomew Harte
The story lacks some details as to the who but the point is arrests were made as well they should. When Mr. Obama was elected in the U.S., there were many accusations made as well but nothing came of it & that was it. I didn't vote for him nor do I agree with liberalism/socialism but like it or not He was duly elected just like Mr. Abe & I wish the people of Japan Good Luck!
Disillusioned
This happens every election in Japan. No doubt there are more than 17 people involved.
BurakuminDes
The citizens destroying the political posters were doing a public service. Much of this trash will be still up and visually polluting us all for another year or more.
Offwithyourarrogance
Tearing up campaign posters?? Is it a crime? How about visual pollution? Making the streets look like the Ghetto, isnt that a crime?
ka_chan
I think the quality of politicians have been going down worldwide. As for campaign posters... yes it is a crime in many places. Think of it as destruction of someone property. Wasn't there a politicians that got caught urinating on an opponent's posters and got arrested not too long ago?
Knox Harrington
Small potatoes, I'm sure. Arrested for tearing up posters? Really? Posting "false" information about candidates? Fined, sure, that I can understand. Arrested, no.
cloa513
Good Bad
Bartholomew HarteJul. 23, 2013 - 09:38AM JST
The story lacks some details as to the who but the point is arrests were made as well they should. When Mr. Obama was elected in the U.S., there were many accusations made as well but nothing came of it & that was it. I didn't vote for him nor do I agree with liberalism/socialism but like it or not He was duly elected just like Mr. Abe & I wish the people of Japan Good Luck!
Investigating US Elections is like a homicide detective investigating a crime scene where everything has been removed and the crime scene washed down with high pressure caustic soda hose by government workers. The "system " is designed to avoid providing evidence- you have electoral workers who don't want to know a person's identity. There little to no checks. I wonder how the Japanese catch anyone- did the perps draw attention to themselves or did some public minded person notice the dodginess and turn them in and the police actually act.