P.M. BRIEFING : Got Recruit Co. Funds, 8th Says
An eighth member of Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu’s new Cabinet today acknowledged receiving donations from a company at the center of an influence-buying scandal.
“I would like to make a sincere apology,” said Takashi Fukaya, the post and telecommunications minister, at a nationally televised meeting of the upper house budget committee.
Fukaya said his support group received more than $5,200 from Recruit Co. over 3 1/2 years until July, 1988, when the scandal surfaced. He also said his support group “mistakenly” continued to receive Recruit money until that November but returned all contributions made after August.
Twelve politicians, public officials and Recruit executives are facing charges of bribery in connection with the Recruit stock deals. Former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita resigned to take responsibility.
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