Photo/Illutration Manabu Horii resigned as a Lower House member on Aug. 28. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Lawmaker Manabu Horii admitted to prosecutors that he illegally gifted constituents money through his aides, according to sources.

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office is expected to file a summary indictment against him that could result in a maximum fine of 500,000 yen ($3,196) for breaking the Public Offices Election Law.

Unless a politician physically hands money to them at a funeral, this law bars political figures from gifting money or commodities to their constituents.

Prosecutors searched Horii’s offices and residence on July 18. During subsequent voluntary questioning, he admitted instructing his secretaries to distribute condolence money among his Hokkaido constituency, despite knowing it was against the law.

Sometime around 2022, sources said Horii's aides sent anywhere from 10,000 yen to several times the amount after supporters or their family members passed away. 

The cash was handed over as condolence money, which typically is given at funerals to bereaved families in Japan.

In total, several hundred thousand yen was sent. 

Horii, 52, is a former member of the Abe faction of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The group recently came under fire amid the widespread slush fund scandal.

Horii received a total of 21.9 million yen in cash from the faction. He did not declare the money in his political fund reports.

Prosecutors believe that part of the condolence money paid to Horii's supporters likely came from these slush funds.

Following the revelation of the funding scandal, Horii was suspended from taking key posts in the LDP for a year as punishment.

Horii quit the party on July 18 following the search of his offices and residence by prosecutors but remains a lawmaker.

Currently serving his fourth term, Horii announced last month that he will not run in the next Lower House election.

In a similar case involving making illegal payouts to supporters, Isshu Sugawara, former economy minister, received a summary fine of 400,000 yen in 2021 and restriction of his civil rights for three years.

Sugawara illegally gave away condolence money, celebration money and flowers on 71 occasions. The gifts totaled an estimated 800,000 yen. The beneficiaries comprised 33 entities and 26 individuals in his constituency.

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