The public was not convinced by prosecutors' decision not to indict local politicians and others who received large sums of cash during an election. The prosecutors office must take seriously the judgment that called for strict punishment.
Regarding the vote-buying scandal involving the 2019 House of Councillors election, the Committee for Inquest of Prosecution has concluded that indictment was merited for 35 people, including Hiroshima prefectural assembly members, out of the 100 people who received cash from former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, whose prison sentence without suspension has been finalized.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation squad has concluded that the 100 individuals received cash ranging between 50,000 yen and 3 million yen, knowing that the money was meant to help Kawai's wife, Anri, win the election. However, the prosecutors did not indict all 100 people, giving significant weight to the fact that they were in a passive position, such as being forced to take the cash.
