Former Tosashimizu Mayor Admits to Bid-Rigging Charges in Kochi District Court
The first trial for former Tosashimizu City Mayor Yo Hohooka and former city council member Hiroo Nagano commenced at the Kochi District Court on April 15, 2026. Both defendants admitted to charges of violating the Act on Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid Rigging, etc. The prosecution alleges that in May of the previous year, Hohooka leaked the confidential minimum price limit for a city construction project to Nagano via telephone. Nagano subsequently passed this information to a contractor, who submitted a successful bid of 59.13 million yen, exactly 10,000 yen above the minimum threshold. Prosecutors also noted a prior attempt in January where a bid was disqualified due to pricing errors. The prosecution requested a two-year prison sentence for Hohooka and one year and ten months for Nagano, while the defense argued for suspended sentences. Two contractors involved in the scheme are being tried separately for obstructing public contract auctions. The court has scheduled the verdict for June 3, 2026. This case highlights ongoing issues with government collusion and transparency in local public works procurement in Kochi Prefecture.
Wire timeline
Former Tosashimizu Mayor Admits to Bid-Rigging Charges in Kochi District Court
The first trial for former Tosashimizu City Mayor Yo Hohooka and former city council member Hiroo Nagano commenced at the Kochi District Court on April 15, 2026. Both defendants admitted to charges of violating the Act on Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid Rigging, etc. The prosecution alleges that in May of the previous year, Hohooka leaked the confidential minimum price limit for a city construction project to Nagano via telephone. Nagano subsequently passed this information to a contractor, who submitted a successful bid of 59.13 million yen, exactly 10,000 yen above the minimum threshold. Prosecutors also noted a prior attempt in January where a bid was disqualified due to pricing errors. The prosecution requested a two-year prison sentence for Hohooka and one year and ten months for Nagano, while the defense argued for suspended sentences. Two contractors involved in the scheme are being tried separately for obstructing public contract auctions. The court has scheduled the verdict for June 3, 2026. This case highlights ongoing issues with government collusion and transparency in local public works procurement in Kochi Prefecture.
asahi