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JAPAN
Tanaka faces
crucial day in
bribery trial
TOKYO, Monday, (AAP-Reuter). — A
former Prime Minister, Mr Kakuei Tanaka, a
principal defendant in the Lockheed- bribery
trial, this week faces a crucial day for himself
and national politics.
On Wednesday, the prosecution will sum up its
case and demand a sentence against Mr Tanaka, who
has pleaded not guilty to receiving a $A2 million bribe
from the United States aircraft corporation while in office.
Mr Tanaka, 64, who was instrumental in installing
Japan's three past prime ministers, including Mr
Nakasonc, has also been charged with, violating foreign-exchange
laws by receiving the money without
Central Bank approval.
' Together, the two charges carry a maximum jail
term of 7 Vi years, but court sources Said the prosecution
was likely to ask for five years, .the maximum
for bribery.
Lawyers for Mr Tanaka and''four other accused
also have to sum up, and the court is expected to hand
down its verdict in October.
But the political impact may be felt long before
then in municipal and Upper House elections.
, The prosecution alleges that Mr Tanaka received
the money after accepting a deal pffered by the
Marubeni trading house, then Lockheed agent in
Japan; that he used his influence to persuade All
Nippon- Airways to buy Lockheed Tristars, and that
the influence fell within the jurisdiction of a prime
minister.
The defence team is expected to wind up its
arguments in May and June.
- Mr Tanaka, a construction-industry millionaire,
took office in 1972. He was forced to resign two years
later for alleged financial irregularities not connected
with the Lockhecd affair.
He sits in Parliament but at least four of the six
opposition parties have said they were ready to present
a resolution demanding his resignation if he does not
voluntarily, step down, following the prosecution's
. demand for a sentence. .;
Although he sits as an independent he still leads
the biggest faction of thb ruling Liberal Democratic
Party and has stated publicly that he will not quit.
□ Tokyo, Monday (AAP-Reuter). — Japan's defence
of its sea lanes in an emergency would not extend as
far. as Taiwan, the Philippines or Guam, the Prime
Minister, Mr Nakasone, told Malaysia's visiting Prime
Minister, Dr Mahathir, today.
The reports in the World News pages are contributed
mainly by the following agencies, (abbreviated In
brackets): Australian Associated Press (AAP), Associated
Press (AP), Agence France-Press (AFP), New York
Times News Service (NYTNS), Press Association (PA),
Chicago Sun-Times (CST) and Reuter.
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