Japan ruling party faction raid signals tough line on money scandals

Charges still an open question in light of vague law and prosecutors' discretion

20231219N Investigators

A car believed to belong to investigators from the Tokyo prosecutors office leaves the building housing the office of the LDP's Abe faction on Dec. 19. (Photo by Sae Kamae)

MASAKI HORIKOSHI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Tokyo prosecutors raided faction offices of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for the first time in nearly two decades on Tuesday amid a wide-ranging fundraising scandal stretching back years, underscoring the gravity of the case that has ensnared top lawmakers.

Yet questions remain over whether and against whom prosecutors will bring charges, given the vagueness of the law in this area and the various ways such cases have been handled over the years.

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