Prosecutors plan to press charges against former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai for bribery in connection with his wife's campaign in an Upper House election last summer, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.
The scandal involving Kawai — known for his close ties to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — appears certain to deal a further blow to the Abe government, which is facing public criticism over its handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Kawai, 57, may have handed a total of about ¥10 million ($93,000) to local assembly members in Hiroshima Prefecture and others in alleged vote buying for his wife Anri in violation of the Public Offices Election Law, the sources said.