Photo/Illutration Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

KOBE—Prosecutors have chosen not to indict Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito and the head of a local public relations company over allegations of illegal payments during last year’s gubernatorial race.

The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office announced on Nov. 12 that Saito and the president of merchu Inc. would not face charges, citing insufficient evidence.

The case centered on claims that Saito’s campaign paid 715,000 yen ($4,600) to the PR firm that critics described as a form of vote buying.

“I believe the authorities conducted a thorough investigation and made an appropriate judgment,” Saito said in a statement.

The PR firm’s president also posted on social media denying any wrongdoing, but expressed regret that her initial comments had caused a misunderstanding.

The controversy began when the firm’s president posted online shortly after the election in November 2024, stating that her company was entrusted with “overall publicity” for Saito’s campaign, including social media operations.

A former prosecutor turned-lawyer and a legal scholar filed a complaint, arguing that the payment was for publicity work that they believed constituted a type of campaigning that should not be compensated under the Public Offices Election Law.

The law strictly regulates both offering and accepting money for election-related services.

Saito rejected the allegation, maintaining that the payment was for legitimate services under the law, such as poster and flier design.

Investigators searched the firm’s offices in February and later sent the case to prosecutors in June, but the probe has now concluded without charges. 

The election, which Saito won, was held after he was ousted by a unanimous no-confidence vote in the prefectural assembly following accusations of bullying and corruption.

Prosecutors also dismissed six other complaints related to Saito and the election due to lack of evidence. They include allegations that the governor misused public funds for celebration events honoring local professional baseball teams.

(This article was written by Kai Nemoto and Eri Niiya.)