TOKYO, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Japanese prosecutors are launching an investigation into a political fund scandal involving a party faction led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.
A Tokyo district-level investigation squad Tuesday reported its findings after questioning the chief treasurer of the faction, the largest in the Liberal Democratic Party, on suspicion of falsifying a political funds report.
Based on the squad's findings, the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office and the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office consented to a full investigation, reported the Yomiuri Shimbun Wednesday.
The investigators intend to question Hashimoto, 67, who allegedly received a check for 100 million yen ($900,000) from the chairman of the Japan Dental Association, Sadao Usuda, in 2001, four weeks ahead of a House of Councilors election.
Usuda and one of his directors are already on trial facing bribery charges.
