Japan scandal-tainted minister kills himself: NHK [View All]

[kskiska]

Source: Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's farm minister, Toshikatsu Matsuoka -- under fire for a series of political funding scandals -- has killed himself, NHK said on Monday.

Earlier, Matsuoka was found unconscious in his room at a residential complex for lawmakers in central Tokyo near parliament, and media reports said he had attempted to hang himself in the room.

(snip)

Media reports have linked Matsuoka to a number of political fund scandals, including a case in which he had declared substantial office expenditures when his office was in fact rent-free, but the minister had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070528/wl_nm/japan_minister_dc_3