The Tokyo High Court on Friday reduced the prison sentence handed to former Construction Minister Eiichi Nakao for taking 60 million yen in bribes from Wakachiku Construction Co. in 1996.
The two-year sentence imposed on Nakao by the Tokyo District Court was reduced to 22 months, while a ruling fining him 60 million yen was upheld.
Nakao, 73, was convicted of accepting the money from Wakachiku Chairman Hiroshi Ishibashi for promising to favor the company in bidding for public works projects.