Haruyuki Takahashi, a former member of the organizing committee of the Games who is accused of bribery for accepting bribes totaling nearly 2 million yen over the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, appeared as a witness in the trial of the alleged bribery, but refused to testify at all, saying that it could affect his trial.

Haruyuki Takahashi, 79, a former director of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is accused of bribery for accepting bribes totaling nearly 5 million yen from five companies over sponsorship contracts for the Games, and his first trial is scheduled for December.

Prior to that, on the 2th, I appeared as a witness in the trial of Yoshikazu Taniguchi (12), a former executive officer of the advertising company Daihiro, who has pleaded not guilty to bribery.

It was Takahashi's first public appearance since his arrest, and his remarks attracted attention, but the former board refused to give any testimony to questions from prosecutors and judges, saying, "I can't answer any questions because my testimony could affect my trial in some way."

The former board member sat in front of the witness stand in a suit and repeatedly refused to testify when asked about his background.

The trial will continue in the afternoon, and former board member Takahashi will be questioned as a witness.

According to those involved, former director Takahashi has denied any wrongdoing in either case.

About former Director Haruyuki Takahashi

Former Director Haruyuki Takahashi joined Dentsu, a major advertising company, in 1967 and served as Director of the Sports Bureau and Managing Director, and was widely known as a leading figure in the Japan sports business.

In the bid for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, he served as a special advisor to the bidding committee, played a central role in lobbying the members of the IOC = International Olympic Committee, and was said to be a key man in the bid.

In June 2014, he became a director of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and was indicted four times by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Special Investigation Division for bribery for accepting bribes totaling nearly 6 million yen from five companies, despite being a deemed public servant with influence over sponsorship contracts and the examination of licensed products.

According to those involved, former director Takahashi has denied any wrongdoing in either case.

A series of Olympic corruption cases

In a series of Olympic corruption cases, executives from major men's clothing, advertising and publishing companies were accused of bribery, and a total of 5 people were prosecuted through five channels.

Starting with the first trial of the former chairman of AOKI Holdings held in December last year,
▽ advertising giant "ADK Holdings" ▽ publishing giant "KADOKAWA"
▽ "Sun Arrow"

Trials have begun on all five routes of advertising giant Daiko.

Of the 15 people whose trial began, only Yoshikazu Taniguchi, a former executive officer of Daiko, has pleaded not guilty, and all of them, including former executives of four other companies, have admitted to the charges against them.

So far, 12 people have been given suspended sentences and confirmed.

The series of trials highlights the situation in which each company repeatedly approached the approach, relying on the influence of former director Takahashi, who was entrusted with collecting sponsors as a director of the organizing committee.