Police raid home of Tokyo 2020 executive over corruption allegations

TOKYO: Japanese police on Tuesday raided the home of a 2020 Tokyo Olympics board member who allegedly received money from a sponsor he signed a consulting contract with, local media reported.

Haruyuki Takahashi, 78, is suspected of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from high street business suit retailer Aoki Holdings Inc., an “official partner” of last year’s pandemic-delayed mega-event.

Kyodo news agency reported that could constitute bribery, as Takahashi was considered a quasi-civil servant who was not permitted to accept money or gifts related to his position.

The Tokyo prosecutors’ office said it could not comment on individual cases.

A sports consulting firm run by Takahashi is suspected of receiving money from Aoki for a contract signed in 2017, according to local media.

Aoki in October 2018 became a Tokyo Games sponsor, allowing it to use the event’s logo and sell officially licenced products. Takahashi told the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper last week that the money his company received was for consultancy work.

Aoki issued a statement last week saying it had no comment on reports of the payments. The Tokyo Olympics organising committee disbanded last month.