At a March 29 hearing, former Japanese House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted a bribe from a Chinese iGaming firm attempting to get a foothold in Japan’s casino industry.
Akimoto was state minister of the Cabinet Office when he allegedly took JPY7.6 million (US$70,000) from the company, 500.com. He allegedly later attempted to bribe those involved by instigating false testimony.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, 500.com was planning to bid for an IR license in either Hokkaido or Okinawa. It has not followed through with those plans, and both locations have since withdrawn from Japan’s IR race.
In Tokyo District Court, Akimoto said, “I never actually met anyone related to the Chinese company and I didn’t accept any cash. I am innocent on all counts.”
Four accomplices in the bribery case have all pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
