Tottori court gives former executive suspended sentence for Yonago monkey bribe

A former construction company executive received a suspended one-year prison sentence on August 6 for bribing a former Yonago city assemblyman with 2 million yen over park monkey management. The 77-year-old ex-official of Tsuji Construction, which managed Minatoyama Park, paid the cash to former assemblyman Inada seeking reduction of the park's monkey population. The Tottori District Court said the bribe was demanded by the politician. The city also recognized the need to reduce monkeys, limiting improper corporate gain. The defendant will not appeal. Inada denies the charge; his trial continues.