Head of Japan’s Olympic Committee under investigation in France on suspicion of corruption

Saturday, 12 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic committee, attends a news conference during the 127th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Monaco - Reuters

PARIS (Reuters): Japan Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda is under formal investigation by French prosecutors for suspected corruption related to Japan’s successful bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, a French judicial source said on Friday.

The source said Takeda, a retired equestrian sportsman, was indicted last month by the national Financial Prosecutor’s office in Paris. Prosecuting Judge Renaud Van Ruymbeke suspected Takeda of paying bribes to secure Japan’s winning bid.

In Tokyo, Takeda said no improper actions such as bribery had taken place in connection with Tokyo’s games bid and he had not been indicted by French authorities.

Under French law, indictment means he is now being treated as a ‘formal suspect’, but a full indictment will come only once the case goes to court.

“I apologise for the huge worries that have been brought to the people of Japan, who have given so much support to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. And in order to put every doubt to rest, I intend to continue cooperating with investigations,” he said.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had been in close contact with French judicial authorities. Its ethics committee has opened a file on the case and would meet later on Friday.