French court may open trial for JOC chief www.nhk.or.jp
A French court is engaged in preliminary procedures to decide whether to hold a trial for Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda.
French prosecutors suspect Takeda of involvement in bribery over Tokyo's successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
They suspect Takeda approved the Tokyo bidding committee's payment of 2 million dollars to a company in Singapore in 2013.
The prosecutors say the firm was linked to the son of an International Olympic Committee member at the time. They say the payment was a bribe because the member could influence the selection of the host city.
Takeda denies the allegation, saying the payment was a consulting fee for bidding activities, including lobbying and planning.
The focus of the preliminary procedures is whether the court sees the payment as a fee or bribe.
French judicial authorities say a preliminary judge may question Takeda if necessary.
Published Date:2019-03-20