菅原前経産相を任意聴取　検審議決で再捜査―香典以外にも現金配布か・東京地検

　秘書が選挙区で香典を配ったとして検察審査会が「起訴相当」と議決した自民党衆院議員の菅原一秀前経済産業相（５９）＝東京９区＝から、東京地検特捜部が任意で事情聴取したことが２３日、関係者への取材で分かった。
　菅原氏が、香典以外にも選挙区内の行事で現金を配布した疑いがあることも判明。特捜部はいったん菅原氏を公選法違反容疑で不起訴としたが、こうした現金も含め、立件の可否を改めて判断するもようだ。
　菅原氏は同日、「当局からの要請があったら誠実に対応する」とのコメントを発表した。（2021/04/23-10:57）

Japanese public prosecutors have questioned former industry minister Isshu Sugawara as part of an investigation into his alleged campaign violations, sources familiar with the matter said Friday.
   In a statement, Sugawara, a House of Representatives member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said he would respond in a sincere way to authorities' requests.
   In June last year, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office recognized that Sugawara gave a total of some 300,000 yen to 27 people in his constituency in the capital between 2017 and 2019 through a secretary in the name of condolence money.
   The public offices election law in principle bans politicians from giving money to voters in their constituencies. At that time, the prosecutors' office did not file charges against Sugawara, concluding that he had no clear intent to violate the law.
   In February this year, however, a prosecution inquest panel said Sugawara should be charged as he handed down the money in consideration of future elections.