英字新聞

(Mainichi Japan) October 7, 2011
Editorial: Former DPJ chief Ozawa must come clean in light of aides' guilty verdicts
社説：小沢元代表初公判　冷静に審理を尽くせ

Former Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) chief Ichiro Ozawa, who is at the center of a political funding scandal, claimed his innocence when his trial opened on Oct. 6.
"There is no reason for me to be charged with a crime," he said.
"The trial should be aborted."
　民主党の小沢一郎元代表が「罪に問われる理由はない」「裁判を打ち切るべきだ」と無罪を主張した。

Criminal charges of violating the Political Funds Control Law had been brought against Ozawa for conspiring with aides to falsify funding reports over the 2004 purchase of land in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward made by his fundraising organization, Rikuzankai.
資金管理団体「陸山会」を巡る政治資金規正法違反事件の初公判だ。
　０４年に東京都世田谷区の土地を陸山会が購入した際の金銭の出入りに絡み、元秘書らと共謀して政治資金収支報告書にうその記載をしたとして刑事責任を問われた。

Prosecutors eventually dropped the case against Ozawa, but the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution selected by members of the public twice decided that Ozawa should be indicted.
　検察が不起訴としたのに対し、市民から選ばれた検察審査会が２回の審査を経て「起訴すべきだ」との結論を出した。

This marked the first instance of a politician's "mandatory indictment" under a revised prosecution inquest law that went into effect in 2009.
政治家が強制起訴された初めてのケースでもある。

The public trial takes place under the new system of "mandatory indictment," and it goes without saying that it should be conducted according to the rules of criminal cases.
　強制起訴という新制度の下での公判だが、刑事裁判のルールに基づくのは当然だ。

The responsibility of proving Ozawa's guilt lies with court-appointed lawyers who will serve as prosecutors.
元代表の有罪を立証する責任は検察官役の指定弁護士にある。

The former DPJ leader has the right to remain silent, and can refuse to provide testimony in response to individual questions.
元代表には黙秘権があり、個々の質問に証言を拒むこともできる。

Despite such allowances, however, we would like to see Ozawa testify head on in this public trial, for there is no doubt that he has caused members of the public to harbor distrust over political fundraising, which should be a transparent process.
　それを前提とした上で、元代表には公判の場で正面から証言することを期待したい。透明であるべき政治資金について国民の不信感を招いたのは間違いないからだ。

At the opening of the trial on Oct. 6, Ozawa lambasted the court-appointed lawyers.
　元代表は初公判で、激烈な検察批判を展開した。

And while he refused to answer any specific questions about the allegations at a press conference following the hearing, it is hoped that a levelheaded battle based on evidence unfolds in court.
その後の記者会見でも、事実関係を問う質問に正面から答えなかったが、法廷では証拠に基づいた冷静な攻防こそ望まれる。

First, let us take a look at the source of the 400 million yen Ozawa supplied in the 2004 land purchase.
　土地購入のために元代表が提供した４億円の原資にまず注目したい。

In the trials of his three former secretaries, the unusual nature of their land-purchase transactions were deemed efforts to cover up illicit activity, and provided the basis for their guilty sentences in September.
元秘書３人の公判では、土地取引を巡る資金操作の不自然さが「隠蔽（いんぺい）工作」とみなされ、有罪の根拠となった。

Ozawa's 400 million yen is the starting point for it all.
元代表の４億円提供はその出発点だ。

At the ruling of the former aides at the Tokyo District Court, the presiding judge pointed out, "Even the former DPJ leader (Ozawa) has been unable to provide a clear explanation (on the source of the 400 million yen)."
東京地裁は３人の判決で、４億円の原資について「元代表ですら、明快な説明ができていない」と、厳しく指摘した。

At Ozawa's first hearing, his lawyers made no mention of the source of the 400 million yen, and at the subsequent press conference, Ozawa simply said, "It was my money."
　元代表の弁護側は初公判で４億円の原資に言及せず、元代表は会見で「私のお金です」と言うにとどまった。

Ozawa's claims have changed over time, with him saying at one point that the money came from bank loans, and at others saying the money had been inherited.
銀行融資、相続遺産など元代表の原資の説明は変遷した。

We'd like to ask him once again where exactly the money came from.
実際はどういう金なのか改めて聞きたい。

Takanori Okubo, one of Ozawa aides found guilty over the land purchase scandal, was also found guilty of falsifying reports on donations from general contractor Nishimatsu Construction Co. at the sentencing in September.
　先月の判決で、元秘書の大久保隆規被告は、西松建設の違法献金事件でも有罪を認定された。

What became a focal point of criticism in that ruling was the longtime collusion between Ozawa's office and general contractors.
判決が指弾したのは、「天の声」を背景とした小沢事務所とゼネコンとの長年の癒着だ。

As such, it can be said that the trial that began on Thursday may cover only one facet of a much greater scandal involving politics and money.
今回の公判で裁かれるのは、元代表を巡る「政治とカネ」疑惑の一断面に過ぎないとも言える。

Even granting that his former aides' guilty verdicts were handed down by a lower court, they still carry significant implications for Ozawa.
　１審とはいえ、元秘書３人の有罪認定は重い。

At the very least, Ozawa should provide an explanation to the Political Ethics Hearing Committee as the politician who had a supervisory role over the three aides.
少なくとも政治倫理審査会の場で、秘書を監督する政治家としての説明責任を果たすべきだと改めて指摘したい。

The ability of the Diet to govern itself is also in question.
　国会の自浄力も問われる。

Two years ago, New Komeito submitted a political funding law revision bill that would prevent politicians from evading responsibility by saying that their aides had conducted illicit activity without their knowledge.
If implemented, lawmakers would be removed from public office if their funding reports are found to have been falsified.
公明党が一昨年、「秘書がやった」と言い逃れできないように、報告書の虚偽記載の際は議員の公民権を停止させる政治資金規正法改正案を国会に提出した経緯もある。

We hope that further discussion takes place.
さらに議論を深めてもらいたい。

毎日新聞　2011年10月7日　2時31分