Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga apologized at a House of Representatives' Budget Committee session, saying, "I feel very sorry that my eldest son was involved and public servants violated their ethics code as a result," Report informs, citing TASS.
Nine more communications ministry officials have been found to have been treated to expensive meals by a son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the ministry said Monday, further widening the scandal that has already brought four senior bureaucrats under scrutiny.
The ministry's internal probe results found that 11 of the 13 government officials have or are highly likely to have received favors from a stakeholder in violation of the National Public Service Ethics Law.
They have been wined and dined on a combined 39 occasions by Seigo Suga of Tohokushinsha Film Corp. This company offers satellite broadcasting services for which the ministry issues broadcast licenses, it said.