
Japanese prosecutors raided the office Tuesday of opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, a leading candidate to become the next prime minister, and arrested his top aide on suspicion of accepting dubious donations. Prosecutors in suits were shown marching into the Democratic Party of Japan leader's office in Tokyo during a nationally televised raid. The prosecutors office said Takanori Okubo, Ozawa's senior aide, was arrested on suspicion of violating regulations on political contributions. Tokyo prosecutors allege that Ozawa's political funding organization Rikuzankai received 21 million yen ($216,000) in illegal donations between 2003-07 from two company executives at Nishimatsu Construction Co. Ltd. The two executives were also arrested Tuesday. Democratic Party legislator Yukio Hatoyama defended the party's leader. "Mr. Ozawa has said there are no legal problems. We suspect a conspiracy, and we will fight it," he told NTV television...more...
While the timing of this arrest certainly suits the LDP, I have no real problem believing that Ozawa has received shady contributions in his career.