Mayor Yoshishiro Kimura of Ishioka, Ibaraki Prefecture, is believed to have passed information on a tender for a public works project to a consultant over dinner a few days before bidding was opened in 1999, investigative sources said Wednesday.
Kimura, 59, is suspected of giving the information to Mitsuro Ozaki, 56, who was formerly a secretary to House of Representatives member Michihiko Kano, when they dined together at a Tokyo restaurant, the sources said.
Kimura and Ozaki were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of obstructing the public works tender by receiving money in connection with a bid from Hitachi Ltd., which won the contract.