References to Japan PM, wife and Finance Minister removed from documents related to suspected scanda

TOKYO (Reuters): References to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his wife and Finance Minister Taro Aso were removed from documents related to a suspected cronyism scandal, according to the documents seen by Reuters, as concerns grew about a possible cover-up.

Questions over the sale of state-owned land at a huge discount to a school operator with ties to Abe’s wife, Akie, have dogged Abe since the matter became public last year.

Abe, now in his sixth year in office, has denied he or his wife did favours for the school operator MoritomoGakuen and has said he would resign if evidence were found that they had.

Suspicions of a cover-up could slash Abe’s ratings and dash his hopes of a third term as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Victory in the LDP September leadership vote would put him on track to become Japan’s longest-serving premier.

Aso told a news conference on Monday that several officials at his ministry’s division in charge of the sale were involved in altering the documents to make them conform with testimony in parliament by the then-head of the division.

Opposition parties have called for Aso, who doubles as deputy premier and is key to Abe’s re-election hopes, to resign.

The 77-year-old Asoapologised for his ministry’s actions but said he had no intention to resign.

“It’s extremely regrettable and I apologise for this,” Aso told reporters, when asked whether he felt responsible.

Opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Edano said key questions remained. “We have to question everything thoroughly and strictly – whatwas the reason, who ordered it?” Edano told reporters. “What about the multiple explanations in parliament – didthey diverge from the truth?”

Japan PM Abe apologises over ministry land-sale document alterations

TOKYO (Reuters): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologised on Monday after the finance ministry acknowledged it had altered documents related to a suspected cronyism scandal, adding that he felt responsibility.

References to Abe, his wife and Finance Minister Taro Aso had been removed from the documents related to a land sale, according to copies seen by Reuters on Monday.

Abe told reporters he wanted Finance Minister Taro Aso to fulfil his responsibility by clarifying the facts of the alterations.