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12/22/2024 10:29:02 pm

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Japanese Politician Captured on Video Crying Amid Spending Scandal Quits

Ryutaro Nonomura, under investigation over allegations of lavish spending, resigned on Friday, more than a week after bursting into tears while giving his side of the story at a televised press conference.

Nonomura, a member of the regional assembly in Hyogo, is accused of misusing ¥3 million in public funds. A video of him weeping and slamming his fists on a table on July 1 during a news conference made it to the Internet and had 2 million views.

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The Japan Times said Nonomura, 47, quit after the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly brought falsification charges against him. The assembly's secretariat, Eiji Kurita, said the assembly accepted Nonomura's resignation, and confirmed that a criminal complaint has been filed by political parties in the assembly against their colleague.

Elected in 2011, Nonomura allegedly splurged on travels, making 195 one-day business trips in 2013 alone. According to the Guardian, the trips included 106 visits to a hot springs resort in Hyogo, but the politician failed to submit a report on the expenses. The Japan Times said Nonomura's public fund report also showed travels to Tokyo and Fukuoka from Nishinomiya.

During the July 1 news conference, Nomura broke down into tears while maintaining his innocence. He said he used the money on "vigorous political activities," but he could not provide documents to back his claim.

When questioned by assembly members, Nonomura said he cannot recall details of his trips and that he had "deleted all data" on political activities and travel destinations from his personal computer.

The assembly chief, Tadao Kajitani, wrote Nonomura, urging to him to give up his position if he could not give details of how he used the money.

The largest party in the assembly, the Liberal Democratic Party, also called for Nonomura to resign immediately.

Amid demands for Nonomura to quit, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the lawmaker should first address questions about his spending before stepping down.

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