Scandal-tainted lawmaker Masatoshi Akimoto sent a text message to Japan Wind Development Co. President Masayuki Tsukawaki, asking him to pay for the purchase of a horse, sources said Sunday.
Akimoto, 47, a member of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the parliament, is suspected of receiving ¥30 million from Tsukawaki’s side between 2021 and this year.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office last week searched places related to Akimoto and Tsukawaki, 64, suspecting that the funds were meant as bribes from the leader of the company, which aims to start offshore wind power business.
The office has obtained information on their interactions by examining a mobile phone seized from Tsukawaki, the sources said.
Around October 2021, Akimoto and Tsukawaki established a horse owner association to jointly manage racehorses, each taking a stake of 45% in the organization.
The lawmaker managed the bank account of the association, horses owned by the association and horses privately owned by Tsukawaki, the sources said.
Interactions between the two included remarks from Akimoto, such as “A good horse will be put up for auction. What should I do?” and “I don’t have enough money for the fodder.” The president asked Akimoto to whom he should pay money.
Akimoto also managed payments to stables where the association’s horses are kept. At the request of Akimoto, Tsukawaki paid about ¥30 million to cover operating costs and buy two horses, the sources said.
Prosecutors believe that the association is effectively owned by Akimoto.
“The money was paid to cover the association’s operating costs. It was not given to Akimoto,” the president’s side said.