The head of a Japanese educational foundation at the center of a real estate scandal told parliament he received a donation from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe via his wife, prompting a fresh denial from the top government spokesman. “She told me it was from Shinzo Abe,” Kagoike said. When asked whether there was political involvement in the deal, he told lawmakers that he thought there was. Used NameKagoike told lawmakers he had at one point used Shinzo Abe’s name while fundraising for the school, without gaining his permission. Akie Abe had been set to act as its honorary principal, but dropped the plan as the scandal came to light.

Source: National Post March 23, 2017 13:18 UTC