First trial of Daito city bribery case, former city employees approve charges in Osaka District Court

The first trial of a bribery case involving facility repair work ordered by Daito City, Osaka Prefecture under a voluntary contract, was held on the 24th at the Osaka District Court (Judge Yusuke Fujinaga).

A former city inspector (48) who was accused of bribery and dismissed from office, and a man (35) who was the representative director of a civil engineering and construction company in Daito City who was accused of bribery, both acknowledged the charges, saying, ``There is no doubt about it.''

According to the indictment, from June 2023 to April 2025, when the former chief inspector was chief inspector of the school management division of the city board of education and the municipal housing management division, he is said to have received a total of 8 million yen in cash from the representative director in return for favors such as selecting the civil engineering and construction company as the contractor for repairs to elementary and junior high schools and municipal housing.

In December 2025, the company is said to have received five items from the company's representative director, including a folding bicycle and a microwave oven, with a total selling price of approximately 170,000 yen.

Former chief judge: “Profit through win-win relationship”

In their opening statement, the prosecution explained how the two met and what led to the incident.

According to the content, the two met around 2020 at a construction site commissioned by Daito City.

In 2021, a former chief inspector who was struggling to make ends meet due to paying for pachinko and food and drinks came up with the idea of ​​a system in which he could receive cash by giving priority to civil engineering and construction companies and letting them make profits, and suggested, ``Let's create a win-win situation for both parties.''

In response to their requests, the representative director reportedly repeatedly prepared and submitted estimates with higher profits than usual to the city.

He gave them cash and folding bicycles in return for the advantageous arrangements they made when selecting a contractor, and with the intention of receiving similar arrangements in the future.

At a press conference held in June after the two were arrested by the Osaka Prefectural Police, Daito City explained that when selecting a contractor for a free contract, they often get quotes from two or more companies to maintain fairness, but when there is an emergency, they only get a quote from one company.

Mayor Nobuko Osaka expressed her intention to review these operations, stating, ``We will announce publicly what measures we will take in order to restore trust.''