The assistant inspector, 53, is being interviewed by his fellow police for allegedly leaking information about an investigation into Shigetaka Kurumatani, former mayor of Tenkawa, Nara Prefecture, who has been indicted on charges of taking bribes while serving as mayor. Such a leak would be a violation of the confidentiality provisions of the Local Public Service Law.
Kurumatani, 51, was arrested on Dec. 6 of last year on suspicion of taking more than 8 million yen in cash kickbacks in 2005 from a representative of a Tokyo construction firm, in exchange for pushing lucrative village water main construction work the firm's way, police said.
On Feb. 18, the former mayor was further indicted for taking a 2 million yen kickback from another construction firm in exchange for telling the company the lowest offer during the competitive bidding process for a water main improvement project. With that final indictment, the Nara District Public Prosecutors Office said that they had brought a string of investigations into Kurumatani to a close.
After Kurumatani's arrest, a Tenkawa village counselor was also apprehended for violating the confidential bidding process, and was summarily ordered to pay a 1 million yen fine.
Tenkawa held mayoral elections to replace Kurumatani on Sunday, which non-party newcomer Yasumaro Kakisaka, 64, won.
February 24, 2009
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