Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno speaks at a press conference in Tokyo, Nov 29, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

TOKYO - Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan's top government spokesperson, is alleged to have received more than 10 million yen (about $70,000) in a kickback, local media reported on Friday, as the ruling party's funds scandal escalates.

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Matsuno, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s largest faction, was accused of receiving the kickback from fundraising events hosted by the faction, national news agency Kyodo reported, citing a source close to the matter.

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The faction, namely Seiwaken previously led by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was suspected to have pooled secret funds amounting to around 100 million yen (about $700,000) over at least the past five years through 2022, earlier reports said.

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced his decision to step down as chief of his faction in the LDP, or Kochikai, according to local media reports on Thursday.