Japanese lawmaker who confessed to receiving money from Chinese company

Japan's Innovation Party expelled lawmaker Mikio Shimoji, who confessed to receiving one million yen ($9,200) from a Chinese company that was interested in entering the casino business in Japan.

Shimoji submitted a resignation letter to the party, but the party refused to accept it and decided to kick him out, according to Jiji Press.

The party also urged Shimoji to resign as a lawmaker.

The group's general secretary, Nobuyuki Baba, told the media that the legislator has substantially damaged public confidence in politicians.

Japan's Innovation Party has close ties to an Osaka political grouping, and with the decision to kick out Shimoji also seeks to minimize the negative effects of the scandal, as it wants a casino resort to settle in the prefecture, according to experts. (International Press)