Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Monday officially apologized for having appointed scandal-tainted Kimitaka Kuze as chief of the Financial Reconstruction Commission, telling the Diet he was not fully aware of Kuze's shady background.
"I apologize to the public for the fact that I appointed a man who would consequently have to quit," Mori told the Lower House plenary session.
Mori maintained that the factors that led to Kuze's resignation Sunday were incidents that were revealed after Kuze assumed the post.