Sought: Three-Year Imprisonment for Former Kadokawa Chair due to Bribery Allegations
Former Kadokawa Chairman on Trial for Alleged Bribery in Tokyo Olympics Corruption Case
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, the former chairman of publishing giant Kadokawa Corp., is currently standing trial at the Tokyo District Court for alleged bribery linked to the Tokyo Olympics corruption cases. Prosecutors have sought a three-year prison sentence for Kadokawa, accusing him of bribing Haruyuki Takahashi, a former executive of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee.
Kadokawa has pleaded not guilty, maintaining that the payments, made under the guise of consulting fees, were authorized despite being aware of the legal risks. The trial is ongoing, and no final verdict has been reached yet.
The Tokyo Games are the subject of a series of five corruption cases, and a total of 15 people have been indicted in these cases. Twelve of the indicted individuals have received guilty sentences, with rulings for 11 of them completed. Kadokawa is among the few whose trial is still active.
Other major court rulings have occurred in related Tokyo Olympics corruption cases, notably against the advertising giant Dentsu and various other individuals and companies involved in bid-rigging for Olympic contracts. These cases have resulted in substantial fines and suspended prison sentences, with ongoing appeals and further legal proceedings underway.
During the Tokyo Games, Kadokawa was in charge of the company management, and prosecutors claim that he was briefed on the legal risk of paying money to Takahashi. No specific ruling or sentence has been mentioned for Kadokawa in the given context.
Haruyuki Takahashi, 81, is a former executive of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee. No new individuals have been indicted or received guilty sentences or finalized rulings in the context provided. The ongoing trial for Kadokawa underscores the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings related to the Tokyo Games.
[1] Source for the number of indicted individuals and the ongoing trial: [URL of the source] [2] Source for the court rulings against Dentsu and other individuals and companies: [URL of the source] [3] Source for the guilty sentences and completed rulings for 12 individuals: [URL of the source]
