A former official of Nishimatsu Construction Co. pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling roughly ¥45 million from a slush fund allegedly amassed through the firm's projects in Southeast Asia.
Kazuhiko Takahara, 63, also admitted violating the foreign exchange and foreign trade law by bringing into Japan a total of ¥70 million in cash from the firm's slush fund on five separate occasions in 2006 and 2007 without reporting the money to customs authorities.
Prosecutors want Takahara sentenced to 2 1/2 years. His lawyer asked for a suspended term. The court will hand down its decision Aug. 18.