TOKYO — A trial wanting into widespread bribery on the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee started Friday with a former head of a significant advert firm admitting to the fees.
Shinichi Uneo, who previously headed ADK Holdings, quietly advised the Tokyo District Court docket the allegations have been correct. In Japan, a trial continues even when a suspect admits guilt. Three prosecutors took turns studying their opening assertion throughout a two-hour session.
Ueno is accused of paying practically 15 million yen ($110,000) to Haruyuki Takahashi, a former government at advert large Dentsu, who wielded highly effective affect in deciding on sponsors for the 2020 Video games. Ueno is amongst 15 individuals arrested within the bribery scandal.
Takahashi has lengthy been a distinguished particular person in sports activities advertising with Dentsu, the official advertising companion of the Tokyo Olympics. Dentsu has additionally been implicated in a scandal to bribe Worldwide Olympic Committee members who picked Tokyo again in 2013.
The sprawling scandals across the Tokyo Olympics have badly broken the prospect of the northern metropolis of Sapporo of touchdown the 2030 Winter Olympics. It was the early favourite. The IOC has now pulled Sweden right into a attainable bid for the 2030 Video games.
Tokyo officers spent $13 billion to carry the delayed Tokyo Video games, though a Japanese authorities audit prompt the actual value may need been twice that a lot.
Different trials involving Olympic bribery are anticipated to comply with, together with that of Takahashi. Takahashi is suspected of getting acquired about 200 million yen ($1.5 million) in bribes from varied firms.
A trial started in December of three officers previously at clothes producer Aoki Holdings. Aoki was chosen to make licensed merchandise, together with outfits for the Japanese Olympic workforce.
One other firm embroiled within the scandal is writer Kadokawa, the place two officers have been arrested. They’re accused of paying 76 million yen ($540,000) to Takahashi. The sponsorship allowed Kadokawa to publish packages and different books associated to the Tokyo Olympics.
Solar Arrow, which produced the Olympic and Paralympic mascots named Miraitowa and Someity, can also be scheduled to face trial.
Tokyo prosecutors are additionally finishing up a separate investigation over bid-rigging for Olympics pre-events, and presumably the precise Video games.
Senior Olympic official Yasuo Mori, Dentsu’s sports activities division chief Koji Henmi, and two different executives at occasion organizing firms have been arrested earlier this month on expenses of violating anti-monopoly legal guidelines.
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Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama