Japan’s Akimoto Tsukasa has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of taking bribes over a previously proposed casino plan in northern Hokkaido Prefecture.
Japanese media reported on the 22nd that the Tokyo District Court sentenced Akimoto (photo) of the House of Representatives of Japan to four years in prison and a fine of 7.5 million yen (about $68,300) without probation.
Japanese prosecutors have asked Lee to serve five years in prison.
Akimoto was accused of taking bribes worth 7.5 million yen from Masahiko Kono and Katsunori Nakazato, who are described as advisers to the Chinese company 500.com . The latter was one of many companies interested in bidding for licenses for a gaming complex in Hokkaido.
A total of three casino resorts called Integrated Resorts (IR) in Japan will be allowed throughout the country in the first phase of liberalization. Mr. Akimoto is said to have worked as a vice minister in charge of facilitating casino establishments in Japan.
In October 2020, a Tokyo district court found Mr Kono and Mr Nakazato guilty of bribing Mr Akimoto and sentenced him to probation in prison.
In the process, Judge Toshihiko Niwa said the two were provided with information related to the casino liberalization process, the result of lavish wine and meals by Akimoto, a former member of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party.
The Hokkaido governor decided not to offer the prefecture as a candidate in the early stages of casino liberalization in the country in November 2019, before news broke about the alleged bribery.
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