Presiding judge Kazunori Karei said that Seki, 69, must take responsibility for violating the Public Office Election Law since he sponsored a meeting for supporters and voters of a candidate of the Chiba Prefectural Assembly prior to the start of the campaign period.
On March 7, Seki hosted an event for the Liberal Democratic Party’s Masakazu Koji, 47, at a “snack” hostess club in Isumi City.
According to the election-law, campaigning extends for a 12-day period prior to the poll. The Chiba Prefectural Assembly election, in which Koji was victorious in the Isumi precinct, took place on April 12.
Seki paid the 4,100-yen charge for each of the 13 attendees at the event. However, the defendant maintained that the event had been held for an alumni group and was not related to the election.
The sentence will be suspended for three years.
