The Nagoya District Court has sentenced 30-year-old former boat racer Masaki Nishikawa to three years in prison for violating Japan’s Motor Boat Racing Law.
Nishikawa is alleged to have received cash in return for multiple incidents of match fixing boat races. His three-year sentence comes with an additional penalty of a JPY37.25 million (US$355,000) fine, the Mainichi Shimbun reports.
Akira Masukawa, 53, a relative and office worker, had been accused of conspiring with Nishikawa and also of violating the Income Tax Act for failing to declare profits earned from the races. He received a suspended sentence of five years and a fine of JPY11 million (US$105,000).
In sentencing, the judge said the defendants had significantly undermined the fairness of boat races and the trust of society.
In response to the sentencing, Masaaki Ushioda, chairman of the Foundation of Japan Motor Boat Racing Association, commented, “We are making every effort to enhance thorough compliance instruction, management and the inspection system so that this will never happen again.
“We will not forget this incident and will strive to provide our customers with fair, safe and appealing races.”
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