Tokyo — Japanese prosecutors have questioned Japan’s Olympic chief and other officials over millions of dollars in payments made during Tokyo’s successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics, reports said on Wednesday. Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) president Tsunekazu Takeda, who also led the Tokyo bid, was among those quizzed in recent weeks at the request of French investigators, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported. French authorities said in May last year that they were investigating the 2.8-million Singapore dollar ($2m) payments to a Singapore-based consultancy. Japanese officials have consistently denied wrongdoing and have said that the payments were for consulting services. The two payments, linked to a son of disgraced ex-world athletics chief Lamine Diack, were made either side of Tokyo winning the hosting rights at a vote in Buenos Aires in September 2013. "Having no recognition of the violation of laws nor bribery, I have told [prosecutors] the same explanation I’ve given [previou...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.