Prosecutors Raid Office Of 2020 Tokyo Games Sponsor As Part Of Bribery Probe
Tokyo prosecutors have raided the headquarters of a major business wear retailer in connection with a possible bribery case involving the sponsorship of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The prosecutors on Thursday searched the head office of Aoki Holdings in Yokohama and an office of a subsidiary firm in Tokyo.
Prosecutors suspect the retailer may have given huge sums of money to a former board member of the Games, Takahashi Haruyuki, as a bribe.
Takahashi is said to have denied any wrongdoing.
A company headed by Takahashi is alleged to have received at least 45 million yen, or about 332,000 dollars, in consulting fees from Aoki since September 2017.
Aoki Holdings signed a sponsorship agreement with the organizing committee of the Tokyo Games, allowing it to sell suits and other items with Olympic branding.