Real estate company chief Mamoru Saito, who is allegedly involved in the Orange Kyosai Kumiai mutual aid society fraud, repeatedly denied Friday that he distributed money to politicians to buy a Diet position for Upper House member Tatsuo Tomobe.
However, Saito admitted he received about 100 million yen from Momoo Tomobe, son of the legislator, to organize a political support group for the lawmaker. The realtor said the money was spent to rent an office in Tokyo for Tomobe, to make posters for him and to pay actresses Saito hired for Tomobe's election campaign.
Saito, 48, made the remarks when he appeared before the Upper House Budget Committee to testify as a sworn witness in connection with the scandal.