Japanese official who took his own life said he was forced to alter records linked to sale of public land at 85% discount.
A cronyism scandal engulfing the Japanese government has taken a dark turn, with reports that a finance official left a note before his suicide saying that he was forced to rewrite crucial records.
The finance ministry admitted this week that it had altered 14 documents surrounding the sale of public land at an 85% discount to a nationalistic school operator with links to prime minister Shinzo Abe’s wife Akie.
The revisions, made early last year, included removing references to Abe and the first lady before the records were provided to parliamentarians investigating suspicions of influence-peddling.
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An official from the local finance bureau that oversaw the transaction was found dead at his home in Kobe last week.
He reportedly made it clear that he did not act alone but in line with finance ministry instructions. »
