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Japan court jails ex-top defence official over bribes

A Japanese court on Wednesday sentenced a former top defence official to two-and-a-half years in prison over a bribery scandal that embarrassed the government.

Takemasa Moriya, 64, who was nicknamed "the emperor" for his influence within the defence ministry until he retired last year, was also ordered to pay 12.5 million yen (126,000 dollars) in penalties, a court spokesman said.

The Tokyo District Court Tokyo District Court (東京地方裁判所; Tōkyō Chihō Saibansho) is a district court in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. See also
  • Judicial system of Japan
 ruled the former vice defence minister had accepted 12.5 million yen from a military contractor between 2003 and 2007 in the form of golf trips and 3.6 million yen deposited in his family's bank accounts.

The chief government spokesman denounced the crime.

"It is outrageous and extremely regrettable that a person who served as the top defence bureaucrat was mired mire  
n.
1. An area of wet, soggy, muddy ground; a bog.

2. Deep slimy soil or mud.

3. A disadvantageous or difficult condition or situation: the mire of poverty.

v.
 in this bribery case," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters.

Presiding judge presiding judge n. 1) in both state and federal appeals court, the judge who chairs the panel of three or more judges during hearings and supervises the business of the court.  Minoru Uemura accused Moriya of lacking morals.

"He built nothing but a collusive col·lu·sive  
adj.
Acting in secret to achieve a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful goal.



col·lusive·ly adv.
 relationship and granted favours," the judge said, as quoted by Jiji Press Jiji Press Ltd. (株式会社 時事通信社 Kabushiki gaisha Jiji Tsūshinsha) is a leading wire service in Japan. .

Moriya, who was the top bureaucrat at the defence ministry, was also found guilty of perjury perjury (pûr`jərē), in criminal law, the act of willfully and knowingly stating a falsehood under oath or under affirmation in judicial or administrative proceedings.  for giving false testimony as a sworn witness in parliament last year before his arrest. He is appealing against the verdict.

The contractor involved in the corruption, Motonobu Miyazaki, 70, was sentenced to two years in prison.

Moriya admitted taking bribes but his defence counsel sought a suspended term, saying he had never hurt Japan's national interests.

Repeated scandals at the defence ministry have been a headache for the government.

A naval officer NAVAL OFFICER. The name of an officer of the United States, whose duties are prescribed by various acts of congress.
     2. Naval officers are appointed for the term of four years, but are removable from office at pleasure. Act of May 15, 1820, Sec. 1, 3 Story, L.
 training for an elite counter-intelligence unit died in September after being forced to kick-box with 15 other men at once in what was apparently a ritual at the base.

Prime Minister Taro Aso also came under pressure this week to clarify his own position on Japan's colonial past after his government sacked the air force chief for saying Japan was not a World War II aggressor.
Copyright 2008 AFP Asian Edition
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
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Author:AFP
Publication:AFP Asian Edition
Date:Nov 5, 2008
Words:317
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