Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Shokei Arai, who was about to be arrested for allegedly earning 29 million yen in illicit profits from Nikko Securities Co., hanged himself in a Tokyo hotel room Thursday, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
Arai, 50, was found hanging in a room at the Le Meridien Pacific Tokyo hotel near JR Shinagawa Station. He was staying on the 23rd floor, the MPD said.
The Lower House member was facing arrest Thursday evening, following a vote in the chamber to strip him of his constitutional immunity from arrest. A Steering Committee session was held before the Lower House plenary session to give prosecutors the opportunity to approve the arrest of Arai and the plan was unanimously approved.