Japan’s finance ministry has acknowledged doctoring documents in a widening scandal linked to prime minister Shinzo Abe’s wife that has rattled his government.
The doctored documents related to the 2016 sale of state land to a school operator in Osaka at one-seventh of its appraised price with the alleged involvement of first lady Akie Abe, who supported the school’s ultra-nationalistic education policy.
Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Monday that an investigation by the ministry and prosecutors has found 14 instances of alterations.
Reports say Akie’s name and a phrase calling the land deal “exceptional” were deleted after the scandal surfaced.
Opposition politicians allege political pressure was applied.
A top finance bureaucrat involved in the land deal resigned on Friday and another official reportedly killed himself.
