Former trade minister questioned over gift scandal as probe resumes

In not seeking an indictment, the prosecutors had said they took into account that Sugawara, 59, stepped down as minister of economy, trade and industry in October 2019 and apologized for the matter.

Cockroaches. That's literally all I see politicians and prosecutors in the legal system as in this country. Corruption, hypocrisy, double standards...Yes, cockroaches is the only fitting description.

It is interesting how corruption is called in different countries. In the US it is called lobbying. In Japan it’s called gifting.

Basically much like most governments Japan runs a 'chumocracy' which basically means helping and protecting your chums at the top and that includes no punishment for criminal acts.

Feudalism is rife in Japan!!

It’s okay,in Japan politicians,high ranked people have a free pass for almost everything.

in some aspect not much changed from the Edo period.

They seem to have a quota of small such cases that get reported in the media and investigated, which only end in deep bows and apologies anyhow. But meanwhile the real stories such as Abe masks and Dentsu contracts and many others involving really big money, are not even investigated and just vanish in the air.

In Japan, bribery is called 'giving gifts'!!!

Who can possibly be bought in the Government?

If anyone can, Isshu can.

first class citizens do not get indicted in This is Japan.

Prosecutors won't give explanations because it would set precedent.

In not seeking an indictment, the prosecutors had said they took into account that Sugawara, 59, stepped down as minister of economy, trade and industry in October 2019 and apologized for the matter.

Ha ha again one rule for the elite and another for the masses and anyway he would only have got a suspended sentence had they prosecuted him.