Japan minister says files altered

TOKYO: Japan’s finance minister admitted yesterday that official documents related to a favouritism scandal dogging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had been altered, but denied any plans to step down over it.

Abe’s government has faced mounting pressure in recent days over the 2016 sale of state-owned land to one of his supporters at a price well below market value.

“Changing official documents is very grave and extremely regrettable and I deeply apologise,” finance minister Taro Aso said at a hastily convened press conference.

“What is important is that these things don’t happen again,” Aso said.

The scandal first emerged early last year, but resurfaced after the revelation that official documents related to the sale had been altered.

Aso blamed the changes on “some staff members” at the ministry, and said he had only learned about them on Sunday.

He said 14 changes had been made to the documents but said he did not believe the alterations were intended to protect Abe and his wife, Akie ( pix).

Versions of the original and the doctored documents published yesterday by opposition lawmakers appeared to show Abe’s name had been scrubbed, along with that of Akie, and Aso.

“What became clear is that they debased democracy,” by lying to parliament, said opposition lawmaker Renho.

Opposition politicians have alleged that the buyer was able to clinch the sale at such a low price because of his ties to the Abe family.

The buyer had named Akie the honorary principal of the school he was planning to build on the government plot. – AFP