Former Secretary to Takeshita Kills Self
A former secretary to Noboru Takeshita killed himself today after the prime minister announced he would resign partly because of financial dealings handled by the aide, police said.
Japan Broadcasting Corp. said that Ihei Aoki, 58, committed suicide at his home in Tokyo. There was no immediate comment from Takeshita, whom Aoki had served as aide for three decades.
Aoki had handled political donations, stock purchases and loans from Recruit Co., which is at the hub of the influence-buying scandal that toppled Takeshita.
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