Kazuhiro Miyatake, a former officer of Chinese online gaming firm 500.com who is accused of violating the Organized Crime Act (witness bribery), has plead guilty to the charges at the first trial of the Tokyo District Court, held on 12 November.
The trial is part of an ongoing case in which House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto is alleged to have conspired to bribe a witness to give false testimony in an IR corruption scandal.
The prosecution has raised that, instructed by Akimoto – who has also been charged with bribery – Miyatake proceeded with an attempt to bribe a witness to give false testimony. They are requesting a one year prison sentence, while the defense is seeking a lenient sentence. The verdict is expected on 22 December.
According to the indictment, Akimoto and Daisuke Matsuura, a representative of the management consulting company employed by 500.com in its pursuit of a Japan IR license, colluded in Naha City with and attempted to give Masahiko Konno, a former advisor to 500.com, JPY5 million in return for false testimony.
The prosecution argued that Akimoto had requested Matsuura’s cooperation, saying “I want you to try to give him money” and “I want you to let him know that I will always look after him.”
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