Tokyo prosecutors from the Special Investigation Division of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office have conducted a series of raids on the offices and related locations of Akira Ishii, a member of the House of Councillors from the opposition Japan Innovation Party. Ishii is suspected of fraud involving the misappropriation of approximately 8 million yen ($54,000) in salaries paid by the government to public secretaries who reportedly had no actual work duties. Investigators believe multiple fictitious individuals were registered as public secretaries to claim these salaries. The investigation has included searches at Ishii's local office in Ibaraki Prefecture and his residence, with authorities analyzing seized documents and questioning associates to trace the flow of funds. Following the raids and ongoing inquiry, Ishii announced his intention to resign from the Diet and expressed willingness to fully cooperate with the investigation. Subsequently, the Japan Innovation Party expelled Ishii from its membership. Meanwhile, the party's secretary-general, Hiroshi Nakatsukasa, apologized for the incident, stating that if the allegations prove true, it would be regrettable. Additionally, the party clarified that reports implicating another member, Takumi Ikeshita, in similar misconduct were erroneous, with the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper issuing a public correction and apology for misidentifying the subject of the investigation. The case has raised concerns about potential systemic issues in Japanese politics regarding the misuse of public funds for secretary salaries.