Ex - Tokyo Games Organizing Committee Official May Have Taken Money From Sponsor
A former senior official of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee may have received a large amount of money from one of the Games' sponsors.
Takahashi Haruyuki, who was on the committee's executive board, heads a Tokyo-based company that signed a consulting contract with major business suit retailer Aoki Holdings.
Aoki Holdings signed a sponsorship contract with the organizing committee in 2018 and supplied official uniforms.
Sources say Takahashi's company allegedly received tens of millions of yen, or hundreds of thousands of dollars, from Aoki while he served on the executive board.
Members of the organizing committee's executive board are deemed quasi-civil servants and are not allowed to accept money or gifts related to their duties, under Japan's criminal code.
They are also banned from accepting remuneration and fees related to the Games, under the International Olympic Committee's Code of Ethics.
It's believed that Tokyo prosecutors are looking into the flow of money.
In an interview with NHK, Takahashi denied giving favors to Aoki with regard to the Olympics.
The firm has declined to comment on the matter.