Gov’t concerned about French probe into 2020 Olympic bid; link with Ghosn case suspected via The Mainichi

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The French investigation targets Japanese Olympic Committee head Tsunekazu Takeda, who earlier chaired Tokyo’s Olympic bid committee.

“They have been doing the investigation into Takeda for two years, and the reason they chose to open (criminal procedures against him) now may be in retaliation” against the Ghosn case, said one government-related individual involved in the Tokyo Games.

A senior Tokyo Metropolitan Government official preparing for the games similarly wondered about the timing of the French probe. “Damage to the image of the Tokyo Games is the worst thing that could happen,” the official said, adding, “This may be in retaliation against Japan,” referring to the Ghosn affair.

Ghosn has been accused of financial irregularities — which he denies. French officials and media, meanwhile, have been critical of Ghosn’s arrest, indictment and continuing detention over his alleged underreporting of executive remunerations and aggravated breach of trust for alleged misuse of company funds for personal purposes.

However, an individual linked to the Japanese Justice Ministry denied the view that the French move came in “retaliation,” saying, “I guess it was just a coincidence that the two cases (are being investigated) at the same time. I understand that they have been probing Takeda for some years.”

 

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