Court finds Japanese officials guilty in Tokyo Olympics bribery scandal

The latest in a series of trials of executives and officials accused of corruption surrounding the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has seen consultant Joji Matsui found guilty of taking bribes by a Japanese Court.

However, Matsui, the former head of Amuse consulting company, will not serve any jail time having his two year prison sentence suspended for four years.

Matsui was accused of using his company bank account to hide money transfers to Japanese Olympic and Paralympic organising committee executive Haruyuki Takahashi, who is charged with receiving bribes from five companies, estimated at nearly 200 million yen.

Advising that “damage to public trust has been great,” Presiding Judge Kenji Yasunaga said evidence revealed that Matsui allowed his company bank account to be used to disguise the transfer of funds to Haruyuki Takahashi, an executive on the Japanese Olympic and Paralympic organising committee with considerable influence in selecting sponsors.

The bribes amounted to about 27 million yen, or US$186,000.

Acknowledging guilt during the trial, Matsui's defense team argued that he was simply following orders from Takahashi. This, along with him appearing remorseful, contributed to the court's decision to give him a suspended sentence instead of prison time, the Associated Press reported.

Takahashi has been charged with receiving bribes from five companies, estimated at nearly 200 million yen, or $1.4 million.

He has denied the charges and his trial will be held at a later date, which has not yet been set.

In April, the first verdicts in the sprawling Tokyo Olympic bribery scandal were handed down in the Tokyo District Court, where defendants were found guilty but avoided jail time.

The founder of Aoki Holdings, a manufacturer of affordable suits for businessmen, was found guilty of handing over 28 million yen (US$209,000) in bribes to an official of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee in return for being chosen as a sponsor that outfitted the Japanese team.

The scandal has sullied the Olympic brand and has forced the northern Japanese city of Sapporo to reconsider its bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics.