石井いしい元もと参議院さんぎいん議員ぎいん 近ちかく在宅ざいたく起訴きそする方向ほうこうで捜査そうさ 東京とうきょう地検ちけん特捜とくそう部ぶ

It has been learned from interviews with those involved that, in the case where the office of former House of Councillors member Akira Ishii was searched on suspicion of falsely registering a family member with no actual work record as a publicly funded secretary and fraudulently obtaining a secretarys salary from the government, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Offices special investigation unit is moving forward with plans to indict former member Ishii without taking him into custody.

Former House of Councillors member Akira Ishii 68, who was expelled from Nippon Ishin no Kai and resigned as a lawmaker, is suspected by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Department of fraudulently receiving salaries paid by the government by registering a person with no actual work duties as an official secretary. Last month, they searched his office in the House of Councillors members building and his home, among other locations.

According to those involved, former lawmaker Ishii reported a relative connected to the social welfare corporation where he serves as chairman as a publicly funded secretary, and the total amount of secretary salaries fraudulently obtained is believed to exceed 8 million yen.

The special investigation unit has been analyzing the seized materials and voluntarily interviewing the former lawmaker and office staff. It has been learned from sources that they are now proceeding with the investigation with the intention of indicting the former lawmaker without arrest on charges of fraud in the near future.

It appears that the former lawmaker himself is suspected of being involved in the selection of secretaries and the illicit receipt of salaries.

Former lawmaker Ishii, after being searched by the special investigation unit last month, said, I sincerely and deeply apologize to all the people for causing such a commotion.

He released a statement through his lawyer saying, We will fully cooperate with the investigation, but he did not explain whether or not he was involved in the incident.