Overview

• Tokyo prosecutors’ special investigation division plans to charge Akira Ishii at home, with filings expected as soon as September 30 on fraud allegations tied to public-funded secretary salaries.
• Investigators estimate roughly ¥8 million was obtained by registering a person with no work duties as an official public secretary over about a year and a half in 2021–22.
• The individual named as secretary was a relative connected to a social welfare corporation chaired by Ishii and has reportedly said they lent their name and performed no duties.
• Ishii’s office staff allegedly managed the relative’s bank account and withdrew nearly all state-paid salary to cover office expenses.
• Prosecutors searched Ishii’s Diet office and home on August 27–28; he was expelled from Nippon Ishin no Kai and resigned his seat on September 1, and he has apologized through his lawyer without addressing his own involvement.