Fumio Abe Explained

Office1:State Minister for Hokkaido and Okinawa development agencies
Primeminister1:Toshiki Kaifu
Term Start1:1989
Term End1:1989
Birth Date:23 June 1922
Birth Place:Japan
Death Place:Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
Party:Liberal Democratic Party

was a politician in Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who served as state minister for Hokkaido and Okinawa development agencies. Abe was not related to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose surname is pronounced identically but written using different characters (安倍).

Career

Abe was first elected to the lower house in 1969.[1] He was state minister for Okinawa and Hokkaido development agencies in 1989 in the cabinet of Toshiki Kaifu.[1] [2] Abe served as secretary general and treasurer of Kiichi Miyazawa's faction in the LDP until December 1991.[3] Abe resigned from his post after newspaper reports of the alleged bribes.[4] Abe retired from politics in 1993.[1]

Bribery scandal

Abe was arrested due to his involvement in a bribery scandal on 13 January 1992.[5] [6] In 1994, he was sentenced by the Tokyo District Court to three years in prison along with a fine. His appeal was rejected by the Tokyo High Court and the Supreme Court. However, he served no jail time because he was hospitalized with an illness.[1]

Death

Fumio Abe died of heart failure in Hakodate, Hokkaido, on 6 December 2006. He was 84.[1]

Notes and References

  1. News: Obituary: Fumio Abe. 11 January 2013. The Japan Times. 9 December 2006. Kyodo News.
  2. Book: Peter J. Herzog. Japan's Pseudo-Democracy. 1993. Japan Library. 978-1-873410-07-3. 188. Sandgate.
  3. News: Ex-cabinet official in Japan arrested in bribery scandal. Deseret News. 13 January 1992. 11 January 2013.
  4. News: Leslie Helm. Ally's Arrest in Bribery Case a Blow to Miyazawa. 11 January 2013. Los Angeles Times. 14 January 1992. Tokyo.
  5. News: Official held in bribery scandal. 11 January 2013. St. Petersburg Times. 14 January 1992.
  6. News: Ex-Minister in Japan Indicted in Bribery Case. The New York Times. 6. 2 February 1992.