TOKYO — A
corruption scandal surrounding the
Tokyo Olympics widened on Wednesday as a
former Games executive was re-arrested on suspicion of taking bribes from two
firms, one of which reportedly sold official mascot toys.
اضافة اعلان
Prosecution
documents seen by AFP accused former Tokyo 2020 board member Haruyuki Takahashi
of accepting 54 million yen ($360,000) in bribes from a major advertising firm
and a merchandise company.
It was the fourth
time the 78-year-old has been arrested over the scandal, following allegations
that he received a similar amount from a suit retailer that was an official
partner of last year’s pandemic-delayed event.
Prosecutors alleged
that Takahashi helped advertising giant ADK Holdings with a sponsorship
contract and received 47 million yen ($313.600) “knowing it was meant to be
thank-you money”.
They also accused
him of accepting seven million yen ($46.700) from a merchandise firm, which
Japanese media named as Sun Arrow and said was licensed to sell toys of the
Games mascots.
Three other
people, including ADK president Shinichi Ueno, were also arrested on Wednesday.
ADK Holdings said
it was “extremely regrettable that we find ourselves in this situation, and we
would like to apologize for the enormous trouble” caused by the arrests.
“Since the
investigation remains ongoing, we will refrain from disclosing details,” it
said, adding that it would fully cooperate with authorities “to help resolve
the case”.
The latest arrest
of Takahashi — a former advertising executive who served on the
Tokyo 2020 board from June 2014 — reportedly brought the total sum of the bribes he
allegedly pocketed to 196 million yen ($1.3 million).
He has previously been accused of taking bribes from
publishing giant Kadokawa and another advertising agency, Daiko.
The ballooning
saga is not the first time questions have been raised over impropriety around
the Tokyo Games.
The former head of
Japan’s Olympic Committee, Tsunekazu Takeda, stepped down in 2019 after French
prosecutors launched an investigation into corruption allegations linked to
Tokyo’s Olympic bid.
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