Prosecutors have grilled former lawmaker Yukihiro Yoshida regarding donations from the Japan Dental Association, a major backer of the Liberal Democratic Party, investigative sources said Tuesday.
Investigators suspect the JDA's political arm donated a combined 20 million yen to Yoshida, a 42-year-old former House of Representatives member, on three occasions between May 2001 and August 2002 but did not report the contributions to authorities as required by law.
The donations were made to and recorded by Yoshida's fund management body and an LDP branch in Aichi Prefecture that he had represented, according to the sources.
Yoshida lost his re-election bid on the LDP ticket in last November's election.
The JDA's political group also reported 30 million yen in donations that were not recorded in the reports of any recipients, allegedly including Yoshida. Prosecutors have apparently questioned him on this point as well, the sources said.
On Monday, Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office staff searched the offices of the JDA group and the home of its chief, Sadao Usuda, over the alleged violation of the Political Funds Control Law.