Japan PM Abe denies involvement in school scandal cover-up

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has denied he played any role in the alleged cover-up of a land sale at the centre of a growing scandal.

The controversy relates to the sale of government land at below market price to a controversial nationalist group.

The group is alleged to have used its links to Abe's wife to secure the discount. References to the Abes were later removed from documents.

The scandal and cronyism accusations have led to calls for Abe to resign. Finance ministry officials last week admitted to removing references to Abe, his wife and Finance Minister Taro Aso in some documents relating to the sale. But speaking in parliament yesterday, the embattled prime minister told lawmakers: "I did not direct that the documents be altered.

"In fact, I didn't even know that they existed at all, so how could I have done that?"

At the heart of the scandal is Moritomo Gakuen, a controversial organisation known for its ultra-conservative, nationalistic principles. Its founder was a known supporter of Abe.

The organisation wanted to set up a school in Osaka, and bought a plot of land from the transport ministry in 2016. The prime minister's wife, Akie Abe, was listed as the school's honorary principal. It later emerged that Moritomo Gakuen had paid about a sixth of the market price. Allegations emerged that Ms Abe had lobbied the government, on behalf of the school, to give a discount.

All parties denied this, and Abe offered to resign if any proof emerged of a connection between him and the deal.

Ms Abe resigned as honorary principal. The school principal and his wife were arrested last July on suspicion of fraudulently receiving subsidies and remain in jail.