Tax Kickback Scandal Rocks Hyogo Prefecture: The Dark Side of Fusao Izumi’s High-Stakes Career
Hyogo Governor Saito Embroiled in Controversy: Former Mayor Fusao Izumi Speaks Out
Former Mayor of Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, Fusao Izumi (61) has updated his social media account to comment on the allegations against Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito (46). The controversy centers around the prefectural government’s decision to take disciplinary action against a former prefectural official who made accusations against Governor Saito, rather than protecting him as a whistleblower.
The accusations against Governor Saito include allegations of power harassment, receiving gifts, and using his position to influence the gubernatorial election. The former prefectural official had distributed a document to media outlets pointing out Governor Saito’s alleged wrongdoing and then reported it to the prefecture’s whistleblower hotline. However, the prefecture determined that the document did not meet the criteria for “reasonableness” and took disciplinary action against the official, who later died.
The Prefectural Assembly’s Special Investigative Committee (Hyakujo Committee) has been questioning close aides to Governor Saito regarding the handling of the matter. Industry and Labor Department Director Goji Harada testified that Governor Saito had instructed his close aides to identify the person who created the accusatory document. There have been a series of testimonies from employees that Governor Saito rushed to take disciplinary action against the former prefectural executive who was identified.
Fusao Izumi has expressed his concerns about the handling of the allegations, stating that the legal adviser to the Hyogo Prefecture Credit Guarantee Association, which is accused of allegedly receiving tax kickbacks, is not being fair or neutral in providing legal advice on how to respond to the allegations.
Seven Suspicions in the Document Incriminating Hyogo Governor Saito
- Personnel: Two vice presidents of the Hyogo Earthquake Memorial 21st Century Research Institute were suddenly dismissed.
- Gubernatorial Election: Senior officials assisted Motohiko Saito in the 2021 gubernatorial election.
- Gubernatorial Election: He visited chambers of commerce and other organizations to ask for votes for the next gubernatorial election.
- Receiving Gifts: Received a coffee maker, a road bike, etc. from a local company.
- Party Tickets: The Vice Governor and others had the Chamber of Commerce and Industry purchase a large number of party tickets to raise political funds for Mr. Saito.
- Victory Parade: The Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes illegally collected funds for their victory parade from credit unions and other institutions.
- Power Harassment: Banging on a desk in anger or yelling at staff.