Japanese political strongman Ichiro Ozawa on Tuesday told a court he knew nothing about how money for his campaign fund was managed, as he took the stand in a closely watched trial.
Ozawa, dubbed the Shadow Shogun because of the vast behind-the-scenes power that he wields, was giving evidence for the first time since three close aides were convicted of falsifying funding reports.
"I have been concentrating on politics and have left accounting to my secretaries," Ozawa, one of Japan's most influential political powerbrokers, told the Tokyo District Court, according to local media.
"I know nothing about practical things," said Ozawa, who heads the biggest faction in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and once lead the party. (AFP)
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