中国企業が現金持ち込みか　秋元議員担当、ＩＲで捜査―外為法違反事件・東京地検

　日本での統合型リゾート（ＩＲ）事業進出を計画していた中国企業が、不正に多額の現金を国内に持ち込んだ疑いがあることが１７日、関係者への取材で分かった。東京地検特捜部は関係先として、ＩＲ担当の内閣府副大臣だった秋元司衆院議員（４８）＝自民、東京１５区＝の元秘書２人の自宅を外為法違反容疑で家宅捜索している。特捜部は現金持ち込みとＩＲ事業との関連を捜査しているもようだ。
　関係者によると、国内に不正に現金を持ち込んだとみられるのは、中国・深センのカジノ関連企業の日本法人関係者。１００万円相当を超える額を携帯して出入国する場合に必要な税関への届けをしないまま、数百万円を持ち込んだ外為法違反の疑いが持たれている。
　ホームページなどによると、カジノ関連企業は２００１年設立で、中国でオンラインくじ事業を手掛け、香港にも事務所がある。
　日本でのＩＲ事業展開を計画し、１７年７月に東京都内に日本法人を設置。中国企業最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）は同年８月、那覇市でのＩＲ関連シンポジウムで基調講演を行うなどし、沖縄でのＩＲ事業参入に前向きな姿勢を示した。北海道にも幹部が出向くなどし、留寿都村での事業展開を計画していたという。（2019/12/17-20:23）

A Chinese firm that had planned to open an integrated resort featuring a casino in Japan is suspected of bringing a large amount of cash illegally into the country, informed sources said Tuesday.
   The special squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office searched the homes of two former secretaries of Tsukasa Akimoto, a lawmaker of Japan's House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, on suspected violation of the foreign exchange act. Akimoto, 48, a member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was a state minister in charge of integrated resorts at the Cabinet Office.
   The special squad is believed to be investigating any possible links between the money suspected to have been illegally brought into Japan by the Chinese casino-related firm and its previously planned integrated resort business in Japan, the sources said, adding that people related to the company allegedly brought in the money in question without notifying Japanese customs authorities.
   The company is believed to have planned to open an integrated resort in the village of Rusutsu in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido, according to the sources. Senior officials of the firm had visited Hokkaido for the potential business launch, the sources said.
   In addition to Rusutsu, some other municipalities in Hokkaido, including the city of Tomakomai, had hoped to host an integrated resort, but the Hokkaido government announced last month that it will not seek to become a venue for such a facility.