Japanese shooting association stirred over possible embezzlement

Japan Clay Target Shooting Association, with Foreign Minister Taro Aso listed as its chairman, is under internal investigation over charges of embezzlement, Kyodo News reported Saturday.

An internal investigative report by the association said that a fund of 5 million yen (about 43,000 U.S. dollar) was processed in an irregular way in February, which is "a problem that raises the possibility of professional embezzlement," Kyodo quoted association sources as saying.

The association is under the umbrella of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

However, an executive member of the association in charge of accounting denied the allegations. The foreign minister's office also declined to comment on the issue.

The 5 million yen in question was posted as a reserve fund in a bank account of the association on Feb. 27 by a local chapter. It was withdrawn the next day but was repaid in May, according to the report. The investigative panel of the association suspects there may have been irregularities in the process.

The association is expected to reply to the investigative report late next month, the report said.

The Japan Skating Federation, another Olympic sports group, made changes on its leadership earlier this year after the report of irregularities in its accounting process.

By Xinhua