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The man said the secret funds were used to promote nuclear power generation and the electric power business in the prefectures that the Nagoya-based Chubu Electric serves–Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Nagano as well as part of Shizuoka Prefecture.
He decided to reveal the existence of the slush fund following the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which unfolded in March 2011 when the powerful Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami struck the plant.
In connection with a secret fund, the statute of limitations has apparently expired in filing potential criminal charges.
An official at Chubu Electric’s publicity section denied the existence of a slush fund to The Asahi Shimbun, saying, “We are not aware that such facts existed.”
The former executive said, “Only a limited number of officials at Chubu Electric are aware of what I had handled.”
The companies that he claimed were involved in the slush funds did not officially confirm or deny his allegations.
According to the former executive, the utility began receiving funding from a manufacturer of electronics components in Nagoya and two leading general contractors in 1985.
The general contractors continued the practice until 1995, paying 10-15 million yen together annually.
The manufacturer contributed 10-20 million yen a year until 2004.
The man also said another large construction company paid 100 million yen and 40 million yen on separate occasions to Chubu Electric in 1993.
He received these funds personally and handled them without entering them in accounting records.
Read more at Chubu Electric built 250 million yen slush fund to win over politicians
Related article:（原発利権を追う）知事選は建設会社、便利な裏金だった via 朝日新聞
