TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Ichiro Ozawa, secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, said Saturday that he won't step down from the post after the arrest of his three aides over a funding scandal.
"I have not done anything wrong. I will make every effort to carry out my duties," he said in a speech at the party's convention.
Ozawa's remarks came after his three current and former secretaries, one of whom is a DPJ lawmaker, were arrested on suspicion of violating political-funds rules.
Local media report that prosecutors believe Ozawa's political fund management organization failed to properly record the sources of funds used to purchase a piece of land in Tokyo for Y400 million ($4.4 million) in 2004 for the purpose of building a staff dormitory.
"I won't accept" such prosecutor's moves, Ozawa said, adding he will adopt a confrontational approach to them.
Copyright 2009 Dow Jones Newswires
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