Haruyuki Takahashi, the former Tokyo Games organizing committee executive arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes, allegedly asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to expedite its approval of Olympic-related products developed by Aoki Holdings Inc., according to sources.
Takahashi, 78, is alleged to have approached the IOC after asking an executive of the Tokyo organizing committee's marketing bureau to speed up its screening of products by the major businesswear retailer.
The special investigation unit of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office believes these approaches were part of efforts by Takahashi to give Aoki preferential treatment in Olympic-related projects.
