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Aichi cops: Land ministry staffer wined and dined at Nagoya club

Haruto Tanaka
Haruto Tanaka

AICHI (TR) – Aichi Prefectural Police have arrested a staff member at a Chubu regional office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in a bribery case involving a construction project in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, reports the Mainichi Shimbun (Oct. 1).

Haruto Tanaka, a 46-year-old section manager in a rivers and roads division in Mie, is alleged to have been wined and dined at an expense exceeding 300,000 yen at a club in Nagoya’s Naka Ward by executives at Takagami Steel Construction, which is based in Handa City, Aichi Prefecture.

Three employees from Takagami Steel Construction were also arrested in the case, including Taiji Kato, the 52-year-old general manager. All of the suspects, who have been charged with bribery and engaging in corruptive bidding, admit to the allegations.

According to police, Tanaka assisted the executives in an upcoming tender. In July and August, he leaked sensitive information related to the construction of a bridge, including the estimated budget.

On October 1, a statement appearing on the web site of Takagami Steel Construction offered an apology to the company’s shareholders and business partners. “Since the investigation is ongoing as to the facts relating to the arrests, we at present wish refrain from offering comment,” the statement read. “We intend to continue to fully cooperate in the investigation in the future.”

A comment from the Chubu regional office of the land ministry said: “Once all the facts of the case are confirmed, we will deal with the matter strictly,” according to Nippon News Network (Oct. 1).