Ichiro Ozawa former Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Japan once again refused a request to appear before the Diet Ethics Panel over his involvement in campaign funding scandal which involved falsifying a campaign financial report. The irregularities came light when it was revealed that he had loaned ¥400 million to Rikuzankai The fund raising arm for his campaign to purchase land in Tokyo for the building of a legislator’s dormitory.
Ozawa’s intransigence concerning this issue has been unbelievable it’s as though the laws of Japan and the ethics rules of the Diet don’t apply to him. At least, in his mind that seems to be the case.
Even if the Diet Ethics Panel votes to have Ozawa testify he can simply refuse as they have no legal authority to compel him to appear before the committee. Unlike the U.S. Congress which has the legal authority to compel anyone to appear before them because they have Congressional Subpoena Power. Refusing to do so is a violation of U.S. law which can lead to a charge of Contempt of Congress and if convicted one could be incarcerated and have a monetary fine levied against them.
Ichiro Ozawa clearly feels he’s above the fray given that attitude and his contempt towards the Diet’s given authority one must conclude that the resolution of this situation will come about when he is forced to resign his seat in the Diet and face the legal charges laid against him. Otherwise his actions will embolden lawmakers facing similar legal and ethical actions against them to not comply with any legal authority.
It’s beyond time for the leaders and memberships of the Democratic Party of Japan to grow a spine and force Ichiro Ozawa to face reality accept reasonability for actions and face the consequences.
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