Newly appointed farm minister apologizes over donation scandal

New farm minister Arata Takebe on Wednesday apologized over a weekly magazine report stating he allegedly received a political donation from a public works contractor.

“I instructed relevant officials to promptly investigate the facts and take action to return the money or correct the political funds disclosure report accordingly,” Takebe told reporters at parliament.

News website Bunshun Online reported Tuesday that a district branch of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Hokkaido that is headed by Takebe received a political donation from a local contractor engaged in national public works.

The donation was made on the first day of official campaigning for the 2014 election of the House of Representatives, potentially violating the public offices election law.

“I didn’t know the company had won a national public works project at the time the donation was received,” Takebe said.

Takebe took office only last week, succeeding Kazuo Yana, who resigned on Oct. 14 over his remarks on cutting the budgets of municipalities whose mayors did not support him in a general election, as well as his provision of free shuttle bus transportation for supporters in an election campaign, possibly in violation of the public offices election law.

After the Bunshun Online report, Takebe said that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has instructed him to confirm the facts and provide a proper report.