Japanese Publisher Gets Prison Term Over Tokyo Olympics Bribery

(MENAFN) A Tokyo court delivered a suspended prison sentence Thursday to a Japanese publishing executive convicted of corrupting the 2021 Olympic selection process through illegal payments to a games committee official, according to local reports.

Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, the 82-year-old former chairman of major publishing house Kadokawa Corp., received a two-and-a-half-year prison term suspended for four years from the Tokyo District Court, media reported from the Japanese capital.

The octogenarian executive has maintained his innocence throughout legal proceedings that began with his arrest in September 2022.

Authorities indicted approximately 15 individuals following allegations that five Japanese corporations—including business suit retailer Aoki Holdings Inc.—funneled money to Haruyuki Takahashi, who previously served on the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee.

Takahashi, now 81, faces charges of accepting bribes but has entered a not guilty plea and continues to face trial proceedings.

Courts have already convicted 12 of those indicted, including subordinates who worked under Kadokawa.

According to the indictment, Kadokawa conspired with two former employees to transfer approximately 69 million yen ($436,000) to Takahashi between September 2019 and January 2021, seeking favorable treatment that included securing sponsorship status for the international sporting event.

Prosecutors had sought a three-year prison term for Kadokawa.

The publishing company secured designation as an "official supporter" of the Games under the book and magazine publishing services sponsorship category in April 2019.

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