Utility cost scandal hits farm minister Akagi

A political funds scandal surfaced Saturday involving Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Norihiko Akagi, who took over the post in early June after his predecessor committed suicide following a similar scandal, according to information from sources familiar with the issue.

The home of one of Akagi's relatives was registered as the office of a political organization supporting him and some 12 million yen was booked as rent, utilities and other costs from 2003 to 2005, they said. The organization submitted political funds reports to the Ibaraki prefectural election board, which say its office is in the home. As the home was not the office and the spending is fictitious, doubts have arisen that the spending was misappropriated.