Takefuji Corp. founder Yasuo Takei, under arrest for his alleged role in a wiretapping case, resigned Monday as chairman after admitting he ordered his men to bug a journalist's phone, the major consumer loan company said.
Takefuji, which earlier denied involvement by its boss, stuck to its contention that the alleged wrongdoings were carried out by Takei and his lieutenant, and that the firm did not know anything about it.
"The series of wiretaps under investigation by law enforcement authorities was carried out under my order, and I take full responsibility and deeply apologize," the 73-year-old Takei said in a letter read by Takefuji President Akira Kiyokawa during a news conference at the Tokyo Stock Exchange.