The Japanese authorities are considering opening criminal cases against global marketing and advertising agency Dentsu and five other companies in connection with the alleged rig- bidding for test event contracts for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to media reports.
Reportedly, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Fair-Trade Commission have been investigating the allegations and examining the actions to be taken against the six companies, namely Hakuhodo and Tokyu Agency and event companies Cerespo, Fuji Creative and Same Two.
According to international media reports, Dentsu officials have admitted to colluding with Tokyo Olympic officials to rig the bidding. At the same time, Dentsu officials maintained a stand that they did not believe the alleged activity was illegal at first.
In November 2022, Japanese prosecutors raided the headquarters of Dentsu related to the same issue. Haruyuki Takahashi, a former executive at Dentsu, has been arrested multiple times during the same period on charges of receiving bribes from various sponsors.
According to media reports, the bid-rigging is regarded as a violation of Japan’s anti-monopoly law. If found guilty, penalties include fines and imprisonment.
