[/floatr]Mainichi: Farm Minister Akagi hit with utility cost scandal
Farm Minister Norihiko Akagi named his father's home as the location of his political support group and chalked up about 90.45 million yen in personnel, office, and utility expenses over a 10-year period even though the home was apparently not being used as an office, it has emerged.
The operating expenses were revealed Saturday in a political fund report. When questioned over the use of his home, Akagi's father said it was not serving as an office.
It has also emerged that another political organization of Akagi, the minister for agriculture, forestry and fisheries, set up an office at the home of Akagi's parents-in-law, and posted 33.41 million yen in expenses in the 17 years since Akagi was first elected to the House of Representatives...
Akagi was appointed as agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister following the suicide of his predecessor, Toshikatsu Matsuoka, in May. Opposition parties had criticized Matsuoka for failing to give a clear explanation of millions of yen in utility expenses for his office in the Diet members' office building.
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070707p2a00m0na017000c.html
