Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa submitted to voluntary questioning by prosecutors Saturday, after which he again denied any wrongdoing in a questionable land purchase by his political fund management organization and said he would not resign as secretary general of the DPJ.
At a press conference following his session with prosecutors, Ozawa said the special investigation unit of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office told him before their questioning that he had the right to remain silent. He also said he signed two written statements regarding the questioning.
Ozawa indicated Saturday his intention to remain in his post. However, the possibility of his resignation will become a key political issue if House of Representatives member Tomohiro Ishikawa, a former Ozawa aide who has been arrested in connection with the land buy, is indicted or if it becomes clear that Ozawa was directly involved in any illegality connected to the purchase.
Rikuzan-kai, Ozawa's fund management body, purchased a plot of land in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, on Oct. 29, 2004. Ishikawa was in charge of administrative duties for the organization at the time, and he is suspected of failing to list in the organization's funds report for 2004 the source or sources of the 400 million yen used to buy the land.
Saturday's questioning began at about 2 p.m. at a hotel in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, and continued for about 4-1/2 hours. Prosecutors asked Ozawa to explain where the 400 million yen came from and what he knew about the contents of the funds report.
The press conference started at 8:15 p.m., at the same hotel where Ozawa was questioned. A civil organization has submitted a criminal complaint to the Tokyo prosecutors on suspicion that Ozawa conspired with Ishikawa, and the secretary general said at the press conference, "I was told that as the subject of a complaint, I have the right to remain silent".
The right to remain silent is guaranteed under the Constitution so people who are questioned are not forced to incriminate themselves. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, investigative bodies may question both suspects and witnesses if necessary in criminal investigations. If they treat someone as a suspect, they must tell him or her of the right to remain silent.
Ozawa said, "I didn't exercise my right to remain silent and signed two statements".
Regarding the alleged falsification of the political funds report, he said: "Specific administrative work was done by people who were tasked with such duties. I've never gotten involved in practical details".
In a statement distributed to reporters at the press conference, Ozawa said, "I never received a report about items listed in the report".
Ozawa said the 400 million yen used to purchase the land was his personal money.
In the statement, he said the money was kept at an office in the Moto-Akasaka district of Tokyo and loaned to Rikuzan-kai. Part of the money was withdrawn from a bank account belonging to his family in December 1997, he said.
"I've never received any illicit funds," Ozawa said, denying allegations that he received money from Mizutani Construction Co. and other general contractors.
The Yomiuri Shimbun
