Following the indictment of his two former secretaries, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama apologized to the nation Thursday for his political funds scandal and promised to pay some ¥600 million in gift taxes on donations made to him by his mother that were first deemed as 'loans.'</PARAGRAPH>
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<TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Former secretaries of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyam Keiji Katsuba –
, Daisuke Haga (below)
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"A large amount of falsified reports were brought to light today (by prosecutors). I take this judgment seriously and realize keenly my responsibility," Hatoyama, who had refused to comment on the issue, told reporters Thursday.
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