Monday, October 05, 2009

Japanese ex-minister found dead

Police in Japan say former finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa, who resigned over apparent drunken behaviour at a G7 meeting, has been found dead. Mr Nakagawa, 56, was found dead in a bedroom at his Tokyo home.

The long-time LDP lawmaker stepped down as finance minister after appearing groggy at a news conference in February at G7 talks in Rome. He then lost his seat in his party's 30 August election drubbing.

The cause of Mr Nakagawa's death was under investigation, a police spokeswoman said.



Japanese media reports said he was found face down on the bed by his wife, with no external injuries.

The incident at the Rome summit was a major embarrassment for the Japanese government.

Mr Nakagawa later denied he had been drunk, blaming jet lag and medicine he had taken for a cold.

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