東芝対応、調査必要なし　報告書「事実関係に疑問」―梶山経産相

　東芝と経済産業省が連携して「物言う株主」の議決権行使に影響を与えたとされる問題で、梶山弘志経済産業相は１５日の閣議後記者会見で、東芝への対応を担当した職員の行動について「守秘義務違反に当たるかを確認する必要はない」と述べ、調査しない考えを示した。東芝の外部弁護士がまとめた調査報告書に関しては「事実関係に疑問を持たざるを得ない」と批判した。
　梶山氏は、東芝は東京電力福島第１原発の廃炉や暗号、レーダー技術の開発など国益に関わる事業を手掛ける「日本にとって重要な企業」だと説明。経産省から同社に一定の働き掛けを行ったことを認めた。その上で、政府による同社への関与は「当然のこと」だと正当性を主張した。
　東芝の外部弁護士がまとめた報告書は、経産省の関与を背景に昨年７月の同社株主総会が「公正に運営されたものとはいえない」と指摘した。（2021/06/15-12:44）

Japanese industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama signaled on Tuesday his intention not to investigate alleged interference by his ministry and Toshiba Corp. in the exercise of voting rights by activist shareholders in the company.
   "It's not necessary to check one by one whether (acts of related ministry officials) breached confidentiality," Kajiyama told a news conference.
   An investigation report compiled by external lawyers about the scandal said senior ministry officials may have provided information to Toshiba or shareholders in breach of confidentiality under the national civil service law.
   Kajiyama also said that he "can't help casting doubt" on what were claimed to be facts in the investigation report, which said that a general meeting of Toshiba shareholders last July was not conducted in a fair manner due to the involvement of the industry ministry.
   Toshiba is an "important company for Japan," Kajiyama said, noting that the Japanese electronics and machinery giant operates businesses involving national interests. As such businesses, he cited decommissioning work at the disaster-crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. as well as the development of cryptography and radar technologies.