秋元議員が保釈　検察側の準抗告棄却―昨年１２月２５日の逮捕以来・東京地裁

　カジノを含む統合型リゾート（ＩＲ）事業をめぐる汚職事件で、東京地裁は１２日、衆院議員秋元司被告（４８）の保釈許可決定を不服とする検察側の準抗告を棄却した。保釈保証金３０００万円は既に納付済みで、秋元被告は同日保釈された。
　秋元被告が身柄拘束を解かれるのは、昨年１２月２５日の逮捕以来。黒っぽいスーツを着て水色のネクタイを締めた秋元被告は、しっかりとした足取りで迎えの車の後部座席に乗り込んだ。報道陣が浴びせたフラッシュから目を背け、何も語らず、午後７時半前、東京都葛飾区の東京拘置所を後にした。
　関係者によると、地裁は今月１０日、中国・マカオのカジノ視察に同行した自民党の白須賀貴樹議員と勝沼栄明前議員との接触を制限する条件付きで保釈を許可。中国企業「５００ドットコム」側が現金１００万円ずつを渡したと供述した下地幹郎元郵政民営化担当相＝日本維新の会除名＝ら５議員も接触制限の対象とした。
　条件を順守すれば、国会に出席可能という。（2020/02/12-20:23）

Japanese lawmaker Tsukasa Akimoto was released on bail on Wednesday, after his arrest on Dec. 25 on suspicion of taking bribes over the government's plan to introduce casinos in the country.
   Tokyo District Court rejected an appeal by prosecutors to block the release of the 48-year-old House of Representatives member. His bail of 30 million yen has already been paid.
   Conditions of his bail include restrictions on his contact with seven current and former lawmakers, including Takaki Shirasuka and Shigeaki Katsunuma, who accompanied Akimoto on a trip to a casino in Macao, sources familiar with the matter said.
   If Akimoto abides by these conditions, he can take part in parliamentary debates, according to the sources.
   Prosecutors opposed the bail release, arguing that even with the contact restrictions, it will become easier for Akimoto to destroy evidence if he is freed from captivity.