September 30, 2025
In the criminal trial of former Liberal Democratic Party Dietmembers charged with violating the Political Funds Control Act by falsifying their political funds reports, the former chief accountant of the party’s former Abe faction has revealed a key piece of information.
Former chief accountant Matsumoto Jun’ichiro, whose guilty verdict has already been finalized, testified on September 25 that the suspended kickback scheme for political fundraising party revenues had been restarted at the request of former Education Minister Shimomura Hakubun.
Shimomura denies the ex-treasurer’s testimony.
Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira at a press conference held on September 29 in the Diet building stated, “Candidates in the ongoing LDP presidential election should clearly explain to the general public how they intend to address this slush-fund issue.”
Koike pointed out, “Matsumoto testified in the criminal trial where he was charged with perjury, but Shimomura had made his statements before the Political Ethics Hearing Committee and on social media where he would not have to face perjury charges.” Koike demanded that the Diet, where perjury charges can be applied, summon Shimomura as a sworn witness.
Regarding the other issue of the LDP distributing 20 million yen during last year’s general election campaign to each of its candidates involved in the illegal-funding scandal, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru had explained, “These funds are absolutely not for the election.” However, according to the 2024 LDP report on the use of political party subsidies which was released on September 26, some of that candidates had spent those funds on election campaign-related purposes.
Koike criticized both the LDP and its presidential candidates for failing to thoroughly investigate these issues and for not presenting any measures to prevent the creation of off-the-book funds from occurring again.
Past related articles:
> Tamura criticizes LDP for using tax money to covertly support ‘slush fund’ lawmakers’ general election campaign [October 23 & 24, 2024]
> LDP’s decision to punish 39 lawmakers does not deserve to be called ‘punishment’ [April 5, 2024]
Former chief accountant Matsumoto Jun’ichiro, whose guilty verdict has already been finalized, testified on September 25 that the suspended kickback scheme for political fundraising party revenues had been restarted at the request of former Education Minister Shimomura Hakubun.
Shimomura denies the ex-treasurer’s testimony.
Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira at a press conference held on September 29 in the Diet building stated, “Candidates in the ongoing LDP presidential election should clearly explain to the general public how they intend to address this slush-fund issue.”
Koike pointed out, “Matsumoto testified in the criminal trial where he was charged with perjury, but Shimomura had made his statements before the Political Ethics Hearing Committee and on social media where he would not have to face perjury charges.” Koike demanded that the Diet, where perjury charges can be applied, summon Shimomura as a sworn witness.
Regarding the other issue of the LDP distributing 20 million yen during last year’s general election campaign to each of its candidates involved in the illegal-funding scandal, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru had explained, “These funds are absolutely not for the election.” However, according to the 2024 LDP report on the use of political party subsidies which was released on September 26, some of that candidates had spent those funds on election campaign-related purposes.
Koike criticized both the LDP and its presidential candidates for failing to thoroughly investigate these issues and for not presenting any measures to prevent the creation of off-the-book funds from occurring again.
Past related articles:
> Tamura criticizes LDP for using tax money to covertly support ‘slush fund’ lawmakers’ general election campaign [October 23 & 24, 2024]
> LDP’s decision to punish 39 lawmakers does not deserve to be called ‘punishment’ [April 5, 2024]
