Probe launched into Japanese ruling parties over political funding scandal

​​​​​​​ISTANBUL

Japanese prosecutors raided the offices on Tuesday of two major ruling party factions in connection to a fundraising scandal, according to the Tokyo-based Kyodo News.

The special investigation unit of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office initiated searches of the largest Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction, formerly headed by late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The prosecutor’s office is investigating accountants from the factions for allegedly not reporting large amounts of revenue from party fundraising, which created a secret slush fund that funneled money to lawmakers, said Kyodo News.

The slush funds are thought to be around 500 million yen ($3.5 million) for the Abe faction and more than 100 million yen for the Nikai group over five years through 2022.

Numerous lawmakers within the 99-member Abe faction, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and former Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, are being investigated for potentially receiving funds, with certain individuals allegedly receiving more than 40 million yen.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at an LDP’s executive meeting that the party will “take necessary steps to regain public trust.”

Kishida removed a group of ministers last week from his Cabinet, and among those who resigned are Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Farm Minister Ichiro Miyashita, and Internal Affairs Minister Junji Suzuki.

Five senior vice ministers and a parliamentary vice minister also stepped down.