Katsuyoshi Okubo, the former mayor of Hanno City in Saitama Prefecture, was arrested on suspicion of bribery after allegedly accepting a 5 million yen cash payment for facilitating land development permits during his term in office. The Saitama Prefectural Police announced his arrest on the 19th, noting that Okubo, aged 73, recognized the allegations regarding the bribe. He reportedly accepted the money around June 2021 from individuals seeking favorable treatment for the development of a lodging facility within a regulated urbanization area.

According to the police, the bribe was received at Okubo's office in Hanno City, where he was requested to expedite the permission process for the land development. However, the proposal to develop the lodging facility did not materialize, and the individuals who offered the bribe are now past the statute of limitations for the offense. This incident sheds light on possible corruption within local government offices and raises questions about the integrity of public officials involved in land use decisions.

Newly elected Mayor Shigeharu Arai expressed surprise at the news, reflecting on the implications of such actions over Okubo's two terms as mayor from 2013 to 2021. His comments indicate a profound disappointment and concern regarding the integrity of public service, particularly given the serious nature of bribery allegations against a former leader who held office for eight years.