人気ブログランキング | 話題のタグを見る

公設秘書初公判 小沢氏は検察の指摘に答えよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 19, 2009)
Ozawa must come clean on funds allegations
公設秘書初公判 小沢氏は検察の指摘に答えよ(12月19日付・読売社説)

A lawmaker's aide allegedly collected donations from a general contractor, which expected to receive orders for lucrative public works projects in return, and made false entries in political fund reports to conceal the actual flow of funds.
 公共工事の受注を期待するゼネコンから献金を集めながら、実態を隠すため政治資金収支報告書にうそを書いた――。

In the first hearing of the trial of a state-funded secretary to Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa over alleged violations of the Political Funds Control Law, prosecutors pointed to such a cozy relationship between Ozawa's office and a construction company. If the allegations are proved true, they would certainly be an act of deception that betrayed the public.
 政治資金規正法違反に問われた小沢民主党幹事長の公設第1秘書の初公判で、検察側が指摘したのは小沢事務所と業者との癒着の構図だ。事実なら国民の目を欺く行為である。

During Friday's trial, the secretary denied all the claims presented in the indictment as well as the prosecutors' argument that he by himself had "the voice of heaven," or the authority to issue commands, to influence the process of determining winners of contracts for public works projects.
 秘書は公判で、起訴事実とともに、受注に影響を与える「天の声」を自ら出していたとする検察側の主張を全面否定した。

Although the secretary denied the allegations, he is on trial as a defendant in a criminal case. Ozawa is a politician with heavy responsibilities as secretary general of the dominant ruling party. We think Ozawa must provide clear explanations on the allegations aired in the trial.
 否認しているとはいえ、公設第1秘書が刑事被告人として裁かれている。小沢氏は政権与党の幹事長という重責を担う政治家だ。公判での指摘について、自ら明確に説明しなければなるまい。

===

Shady dealings

It has been found that two political organizations headed by former officials of the general contractor, Nishimatsu Construction Co., donated 35 million yen over four years to Ozawa's political fund management organization and a DPJ local branch headed by Ozawa.
 小沢氏の資金管理団体などには西松建設のOBを代表にした二つの政治団体から4年間で計3500万円が献金されていた。

The prosecutors claimed the two organizations were merely dummies and that Nishimatsu Construction was actually the true source of the donations. The prosecution also argued that Ozawa's secretary was well aware of these details.
 この政治団体に実体がなく、献金の主体は西松建設であり、公設秘書もそれを認識していた、というのが検察側の主張である。

To support the allegation, the prosecutors presented, during their opening statement and on other occasions, details of a number of instances in which the secretary had spoken with officials of Nishimatsu and other general contractors.
 それを裏づける事実として、検察側は冒頭陳述などで、西松建設をはじめゼネコンと公設秘書とのやり取りなどを挙げた。

The secretary allegedly was able to convince the firms to fork over huge donations after taking over from his predecessor the role of "the voice of heaven" regarding the public works contracts.
 公設秘書は、前任者から「天の声」を出す役割を引き継ぎ、多額の献金などを要求していた。

A dam construction project that the Iwate prefectural government planned to put up for tender lies at the heart of this case. The secretary allegedly told Nishimatsu officials when they lobbied to receive the order: "Right, I've got it. I'll let Nishimatsu undertake the project." The secretary reportedly wrote down the title of the project as he was talking.
 岩手県が発注予定のダム工事では、西松建設から陳情を受けた際に、工事名をメモしながら、「よしわかった、西松にしてやる」と了解を与えていた。

When Nishimatsu officials were reluctant to extend financial support to Ozawa's election campaign, the secretary reportedly brought up the name of another dam, on which the company had received an order. He allegedly told the officials, in an apparent attempt to intimidate them, "Don't forget that it's Ozawa's dam."
 また、西松建設が選挙への協力を渋った際には、同社が受注した別のダム名を挙げ、「小沢ダムだということを忘れるな」と脅しまがいの言葉を口にしたという。

===

More scandals rear heads

In their opening statement, prosecutors said Nishimatsu donated 138 million yen over 10 years to the Ozawa side, including donations falsely registered in political fund reports. It is believed another 10 million yen in donations were raked in annually from subcontractors.
 冒頭陳述では、西松建設側から小沢氏側への献金は、虚偽記入分も含めて10年間で1億3800万円に上り、下請け企業からの献金も年間1000万円程度あった、とされている。

Adding more fuel to the scandal fire, Ozawa's political fund management organization is under the spotlight over a dubious land purchase.
 このほか、小沢氏の資金管理団体には、不動産購入に絡む別の疑惑も浮上している。

We wonder how Ozawa will respond to these allegations.
 小沢氏はこうした点について、どう答えるのだろうか。

In another money scandal embroiling a DPJ heavyweight, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's political fund management organization is suspected of having falsified political fund reports. A former state-paid secretary to Hatoyama is expected to be indicted without arrest soon over the case.
 民主党では、鳩山首相の資金管理団体でも収支報告書の虚偽記入の疑いがあり、元公設第1秘書が近く在宅起訴される見通しだ。

The DPJ is considering banning political donations from companies and organizations. Ozawa spoke of this plan at a press conference soon after his secretary was arrested. But if Ozawa cannot clear up the troubling allegations against him, such a policy proposal will inevitably be regarded as a mere facade.
 民主党は、企業・団体献金の全面禁止を検討している。小沢氏が秘書逮捕後の記者会見で突然表明したものだ。だが、自らに向けられた疑惑を払拭(ふっしょく)できないのであれば、単なる「目くらまし」と受け止められても仕方あるまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 19, 2009)
(2009年12月19日01時20分 読売新聞)
by kiyoshimat | 2009-12-19 06:16 | 英字新聞

英字新聞の学習サイト


by kiyoshimat