Google Street View Reveals a Fake Political Body

Google Street View (GSV) is controversial in the world. Some says it has no merit, but it has at least one merit: it can reveal politician's dirty money.

Seiichi Ohta, the Ministry of Agriculture, has a political body "The Group that Encourages the Congressman Ohta" that spent 40 million yen ($400,000) in 2005-6, according to its report for the government. Its bureau is placed in Jiyugaoka, a high-class residential district in Tokyo. However, as this picture of GSV shows, it's his secretary's house, from whom I borrow my home!

In a press conference yesterday, Ohta insisted that he had employed 150 operators in 2005 and 06. But it's impossible for them to work in this small house where no car can enter. I've never seen anybody but the secretary's family. The wage might have been paid for the Election in 2005 in Fukuoka, Ohta's constituency, by his supporting group.

If Ohta double-counted the expenditure of his supporting group in Fukuoka as this political body in Tokyo, it would violate the Political Funds Control Law. He didn't reveal the names of 150 operators, but opposition parties will demand him to submit the wage statement to the Diet that will begin on September 18.

The Minister of Agriculture is the "haunted post". Two of Ohta's predecessors resigned by similar scandals and one committed suicide, which led to the collapse of Abe administration. As opposition parties demand to make the special committee to investigate Ohta's scandal, if he clings to his dubious claim, Fukuda administration might collapse, too.

Chief cabinet secretary Machimura said Ohta cleared the problem, but PM Fukuda made no comment to defend Ohta so far. He is cleverer than Machimura.