Haruyuki Takahashi, a former executive board member of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee arrested on suspicion of taking bribes from major business clothing retailer Aoki Holdings Inc., had allegedly mediated between the company, the committee and other organizations so that the company would be chosen as a sponsor for the Games, it has been learned.
The 78-year-old suspect allegedly presented the Aoki side with a lower sponsorship fee and obtained an agreement from the company on the signing of the sponsorship contract. Then Takahashi is alleged to have told the committee and others that the company had been informally chosen as an official sponsor for the Games.
