Mother Of Abe Shooting Suspect May Have Donated 100 Mil. Yen To Religious Group
Sources within the investigation into the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo say the suspect's mother likely donated nearly 100 million yen, or about 720,000 dollars, to a religious organization.
The sources quote the 41-year-old suspect, Yamagami Tetsuya, as saying his mother ruined his family by making huge donations to the group.
Yamagami reportedly told police he resented the organization, where his mother was an avid follower. Police say he apparently targeted Abe on the belief that Abe had close ties to it.
Police have been questioning the suspect about the donations and other circumstances since his arrest at the scene of the attack in the city of Nara on Friday. They have also talked to his relatives.
The sources say the total contributions apparently came to nearly 100 million yen, including the life insurance payout on the death of Yamagami's father. They say the proceeds from the sales of three real estate properties the family owned were also included.
A relative said the family complained to the organization, and it paid back 50 million yen, or about 360,000 dollars. But the relative said the suspect's mother donated the money to the religious group again.
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly called the Unification Church, has said the mother is a member. It says it has not been able to find out how much money she donated and exactly when.
But the organization says it paid back a total of 50 million yen over a period of 10 years through 2014.
It says why the repayment was made is not clear, but apparently in consideration of the family's circumstances.