politics

Amari to explain bribery accusations on Thursday

17 Comments
By Leika Kihara and Kaori Kaneko

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

17 Comments
Login to comment

Explain? More like stand up and make excuses. While he's there he should make a public apology, hand in his resignation and then fall on his sword.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

“There’s no doubt the pro-growth policies of Abenomics will be hit” if Amari resigns, one of the officials said.

meaning we should support a bribe taker :(

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Jeez, how much more dawdling is this going to take?

"I can't explain it yet." "I will need one week to explain it." "I will explain it tomorrow."

If you have an explanation, just give it. If you don't have an explanation, keep your mouth shut. This isn't a new Star Wars movie; you shouldn't be trying to hype your own defense against corruption allegations.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

"Amari to explain bribery accusations..."

One of those sentences that start a certain way and never end well...

7 ( +7 / -0 )

In the words of Shaggy: "It wasn't me"

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Amari to explain bribery accusations on Thursday:

"It must have been my secretaries. I had no idea what they were doing."

11 ( +11 / -0 )

“There’s no doubt the pro-growth policies of Abenomics will be hit” if Amari resigns, one of the officials said."

I guess then we have nothing to worry about since there has been no meaningful growth from Abenomics. Lie away, Amari-kun. Just business as usual for incestous Japanese politicians.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Much like the Olympus case where they started with "we did nothing illegal"

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Clearly if this case is not raised and investigated to the end....then no bribery cases will never be.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Abe's pro-growth policy is a big success. Every one of his friends is getting richer!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If I were Amari, I'd do like the Prime Minister of Malaysia just did. He was recently found to have received, get this, USD 681,000,000.00 in a single payment cash bribe coming from the Saudis. His excuse? "It wasn't a bribe...it was...a personal gift from the Saudis. And besides, I gave back USD 600,000,000.00, so what's the problem?"

Malaysia is so corrupt...that it worked! (No mention what he did with the remaining 80 million dollars, too: looks like he gets to keep that! Not bad, huh?) Meanwhile, his country gets more and more Salafist everyday (i.e. the very strict and uncompromising form of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia is being expanded in Malaysia by leaps and bounds under this prime minister.)

If it worked in Malaysia, I'd bet Japan is corrupt enough at the top to where Amari might get away with it, too. After all, can you name me the scores of politicians who have been accused of corruption here who actually went to prison for their lawbreaking deeds? No? How about the top 10 most notorious transgressors, then? How about even 1? Oh, well....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

“His resignation could be seen as causing further delays in growth strategy and reforms ... and could push down Tokyo stocks,” she said.

I think overseas investors by and large already know now that there isn't going to be a lot of (proper) growth strategy or reform coming out of the Abe administration, so I doubt there would be a big impact whichever way he goes.

the balance of political power could shift from those in the administration who favor more spending to stimulate growth to those who prioritise fiscal discipline to rein in ballooning public debt.

Interesting possibility. That could theoretically be good news for the tax payer, but I'll believe in fiscal discipline in Japanese government, after I see it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

had accepted money from a construction company in exchange for helping the firm receive compensation for disputes over land ownership and waste removal at a public works site.

This is mafia business in America. I guess disputes over land issues, especially if in the way of other pork barrel dubious construction of bridges and such, and the waste removal companies holding monopolies holds here as well too. He must make a fortune in kickbacks as well.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This is such a farce. Why is the schedule of public disclosure of information about a serious criminal offence being dictated solely by the convenience of the very person accused of committing the crime?

This is especially ludicrous given that all it takes is a yes/no answer to the question Did you take bribes? You don`t need a week to answer that.

But then since we are already letting the accused be in charge of investigating himself we might as well just see how nuts things can get. Perhaps his inquiry into his own graft will not only completely clear himself of all wrongdoing, but will uncover evidence that he is such an amazing guy that should create a special cabinet position for him titled something like "Minister in charge of stamping out corruption in all its forms so everyone can take an active part in society for future generations."

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I hope he does not resign and goes over to Europe to promote Abenomics -- it'll be hilarious! He'll make Japan a laughing stock!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites