Foreign Ministry fires official over hotel fraud scam

Foreign Ministry fires official over hotel fraud scam

TOKYO, Japan - Three senior Foreign Ministry officials bow at a news conference Sept. 27 after announcing the dismissal of Akio Asakawa, 56, a former assistant director at the First West Europe Division of the ministry's European Affairs Bureau, who was indicted on fraud charges.

Hotel New Otani officials arrested over fraud

Hotel New Otani officials arrested over fraud

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Sept. 5 shows Hotel New Otani in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. Two officials of the hotel were arrested Sept. 6, along with Akio Asakawa, an assistant director of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau, on suspicion of defrauding the state of some 400 million yen by padding hotel bills for international meetings.

Investigators raid Foreign Ministry official's house

Investigators raid Foreign Ministry official's house

TOKYO, Japan - Police investigators enter the house in Tokyo on Sept. 6 of Akio Asakawa, an assistant director of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau, who was arrested earlier in the day, along with two Hotel New Otani officials, on suspicion of defrauding the state of some 400 million yen by padding hotel bills for international meetings.

Hotel New Otani officials arrested over fraud

Hotel New Otani officials arrested over fraud

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Sept. 5 shows Hotel New Otani in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. Two officials of the hotel were arrested Sept. 6, along with Akio Asakawa, an assistant director of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau, on suspicion of defrauding the state of some 400 million yen by padding hotel bills for international meetings.

Foreign Ministry, hotel officials arrested over fraud

Foreign Ministry, hotel officials arrested over fraud

TOKYO, Japan - Akio Asakawa (file photo), an assistant director of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau, is arrested Sept. 6, along with two Hotel New Otani officials, on suspicion of defrauding the state of some 400 million yen by padding hotel bills for international meetings.

Foreign Ministry fires official over hotel fraud scam

Foreign Ministry fires official over hotel fraud scam

TOKYO, Japan - Three senior Foreign Ministry officials bow at a news conference Sept. 27 after announcing the dismissal of Akio Asakawa, 56, a former assistant director at the First West Europe Division of the ministry's European Affairs Bureau, who was indicted on fraud charges.

Investigators raid Foreign Ministry official's house

Investigators raid Foreign Ministry official's house

TOKYO, Japan - Police investigators enter the house in Tokyo on Sept. 6 of Akio Asakawa, an assistant director of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau, who was arrested earlier in the day, along with two Hotel New Otani officials, on suspicion of defrauding the state of some 400 million yen by padding hotel bills for international meetings.