The posts minister said Friday he will return one month's salary to take responsibility for a scandal in which a former Upper House lawmaker resigned after postal officials were accused of soliciting votes in his election campaign.
Toranosuke Katayama also said Postal Services Agency chief Seijiro Adachi will have his salary cut by 10 percent for three months in connection with the scandal, which forced Kenji Koso to vacate his House of Councilors seat on Sept. 25.
Punishments for two senior postal officials indicted earlier this month in connection with the case, including Tsuyoshi Mishima, former head of the Kinki Postal Administration Office, will be decided after their cases are tried in court, the public management, home affairs, posts and telecommunications minister said. Katayama also admonished Akira Shimazu, administrative vice minister, Sadanori Amano, assistant minister, and Hiroaki Dan, director of the secretariat.