Politics LDP lawmaker under investigation for alleged government fraud

The ruling LDP faces its next scandal: Japanese prosecutors have launched an investigation into a member of the ruling LDP for suspected fraud. Upper House lawmaker Megumi Hirose's home and offices were searched on 30 July following allegations that she misused public funds by paying the salary of an aide registered to her, who did not work for her. Hirose has denied the accusations but has yet to provide a detailed explanation. The case came to light after a weekly magazine reported discrepancies in her staff records. The investigation revealed that Hirose had also registered her aide's wife as a staff member despite the woman not performing any duties.

Hirose said in the statement that the wife "worked remotely in Tono city in Iwate Prefecture on weekdays, creating and updating lists of supporters, and on weekends she worked at the office in Morioka and drove (Hirose) to and from the station and other places." This is the second scandal involving Hirose in recent months. In early March, a weekly magazine reported on her alleged affair. After the report, Hirose declined to resign from the Diet or leave the party over the scandal.

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In March, the tabloids had a feeding frenzy over her extramarital liaison with a Canadian saxophonist.


And the paparazzi had their heyday:



Mrs Hirose, a lawyer by profession, left the LDP earlier this week.

Hirose Megumi, who left Japan's ruling LDP last month following a salary fraud investigation involving a secretary who had no actual duties, resigned from the House of Councillors on Thursday. A by-election for Hirose's seat in Iwate Prefecture is anticipated to occur in October. In late July, her residence and office were searched in connection with the allegations. In a statement, Hirose acknowledged receiving funds intended for the secretary's salary "to cover office expenses," even though the secretary did not perform any duties.

Her resignation comes as the LDP has faced intense scrutiny after some of its factions failed to report portions of their income from fundraising parties and created slush funds for years, leading to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decision to step down as prime minister next month.

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