吉川元農水相、在宅起訴検討　収賄罪、鶏卵業者から５００万円―東京地検

　自民党衆院議員だった吉川貴盛元農林水産相（７０）＝北海道２区、議員辞職＝が、大手鶏卵生産会社前代表（８７）から大臣在任中に現金を供与された疑いがある事件で、東京地検特捜部が吉川氏を収賄罪で在宅起訴する方向で検討を進めていることが１２日、関係者への取材で分かった。
　吉川氏は手術を受け、病院に入院中。特捜部は議員会館の事務所などを既に家宅捜索しており、逃亡や証拠隠滅の恐れが低く、身柄拘束の必要はないと判断しているもようだ。
　現金を渡した前代表についても、高齢であることなどから贈賄罪で在宅起訴する方向で調整している。
　関係者によると、吉川氏は大手鶏卵生産会社「アキタフーズ」（広島県福山市）前代表から、農水相在任中の２０１８年１１月と１９年３月にそれぞれ２００万円、同年８月に１００万円の計５００万円を受領した疑いが持たれている。（2021/01/12-10:30）

Japanese public prosecutors are planning to indict former agriculture minister Takamori Yoshikawa without arrest over an alleged bribery scandal, it was learned Tuesday.
   Yoshikawa, 70, who has resigned as a lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is suspected of receiving cash in connection with his duties from a former head of a major egg-producing company while he was serving in the ministerial post.
   The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation squad believes that there is no need to take Yoshikawa into custody as the possibility of him fleeing or destroying evidence is low, informed sources said. Yoshikawa has undergone an operation and is currently hospitalized while prosecutors have already searched Yoshikawa's office in a parliamentary facility in Tokyo and other locations.
   Prosecutors are planning to indict the 87-year-old former head of the egg producer, Akita Foods, based in the city of Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, for allegedly bribing Yoshikawa, the sources said, adding that the indictment will be made also without arrest, due to the former head's old age.
   Yoshikawa is suspected of receiving a total of 5 million yen from the former Akita Foods chief while he was in office as agriculture minister--2 million yen each in November 2018 and March 2019, and 1 million yen in August 2019.