Authorities in Japan have rejected an appeal by former House Representative Tsukasa Akimoto regarding the corruption case linked to a proposed integrated resort in the nation.
The sentence means that the ruling of four years in prison and a fine of JPY7.6 million ($49,000) has now become final.
In addition, a former policy secretary for Akimoto, Akihoro Toyashima, has also been charged with two years in prison, after his appeal was rejected.
Authorities rule that the then-state minister received bribes amounting to JPY7.6 million, including cash and travel expenses from a Chinese company aiming to open an IR in Japan, says The Japan Times.
Japan has been struggling to push its IR implementation beyond the success of the upcoming MGM-Orix project in Osaka, as hopes dwindle for other IR projects in other proposed IR sites.
