Informed sources revealed that House of Representatives lawmaker Horii Manabu was voluntarily questioned by the special investigation department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office over the illegal distribution of condolence money.

Horii’s offices were raided by the special investigation department on July 18 on suspicion of violation of the public election law.

He allegedly ordered his secretaries to illegally distribute condolence money under his name at funeral ceremonies in his electoral district in Hokkaido around 2022.

It is believed that the special investigation department sought to confirm the legislator’s understanding and other details regarding the illegal distribution of condolence money.

Investigators have found that Representative Horii is believed to have personally instructed his secretaries via Line message app regarding the amount and distribution of the condolence money.

The total illegal donations are estimated to amount to several hundreds of thousands of yen.

Horii last week submitted a notice of departure from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which was accepted.