An aide to indicted lawmaker Muneo Suzuki pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of rigging bids for a government-funded project on Russian-held Kunashiri island.
Akira Miyano, 54, said in his first trial session before the Tokyo District Court, "It is a fact that I introduced companies to each other, but I do not believe I did anything illicit."
Miyano is on trial with five others in the case.