Rekiji Kobari, 79; Tycoon Questioned in Kanemaru Scandal

Rekiji Kobari, 79, a Japanese business tycoon who was questioned early this year about alleged massive tax evasion by political kingpin Shin Kanemaru. Kanemaru went on trial in July on charges of evading $9.6 million in taxes on hidden income totaling $17 million from 1987 and 1989. Kanemaru, who played a key role in picking four Japanese prime ministers, contended that the money was non-taxable political funds. Kobari was allegedly involved in massive purchases of bonds from Nippon Credit Bank by Kanemaru. Kanemaru is accused of using non-traceable bonds to hide money from tax authorities. Kobari acknowledged close ties with Kanemaru and four former prime ministers, but denied ever giving money to any of them. The Kanemaru case was among a number of corruption scandals that led to the Liberal Democratic Party’s defeat in elections this summer after 38 years in power. In Tokyo on Sunday of apparent heart failure.