A 43-year-old senior official from Nogata City’s Building Management Division has been arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes in the form of goods worth several hundred thousand yen from a local contractor. The police allege that over several years starting in 2020, the official used his influence to help the contractor secure municipal plumbing repair contracts. In exchange, he reportedly received electric tools and other items on multiple occasions. Authorities searched Nogata City Hall on April 30 as part of the investigation. The suspect, the city’s only mechanical equipment specialist, held advisory authority over plumbing projects including those initiated by other departments. He had de facto power to select contractors for discretionary contracts under ¥500,000, with over a dozen such deals under scrutiny. The city’s mayor publicly apologized and pledged stricter discipline and efforts to rebuild public trust. Source: NHK
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