Name of Case

The accused

Date of accusation

Date of prosecution

Date of decision

Sentence

Price cartel on stretch film

Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc. and 22 others

(8 companies and 15 officials)

Nov. 6, 1991

(Additional accusation on Dec. 19, 1991)

Dec. 20, 1991

May 5, 1993

Tokyo High Court

Fines of 6 to 8 million yen to the accused companies and 6 to 12-month prison terms for the accused persons (with a 2-year reprieve).

Bid rigging on seals ordered by the Social Insurance Agency

Toppan Moore Co., Ltd. and 3 others

Feb. 24, 1993

Mar. 31, 1993

Dec. 14, 1993

Tokyo High Court

A fine of 4 million yen to each of the accused companies (Those involved in the accused companies’ order-taking activities were prosecuted according to the Penal Code Article 96(3)).

Bid rigging on Japan Sewage Agency’s electrical equipment contracts

Hitachi and 26 others (9 companies, 17 persons involved in order taking, and 1 person involved in ordering)

Mar. 6, 1995

(Additional accusation on Jun. 7, 1995)

Jun. 15, 1995

May 31, 1996

Tokyo High Court

Fines of 40 to 60 million yen to the accused companies, 10-month prison terms for those involved in the companies’ order taking (with a 2-year reprieve), and an 8-month prison term to the person involved in the Japan Sewage Agency’s ordering (with a 2-year reprieve) 

Bid rigging on water meters procured by Tokyo Metropolitan Government

K. K. Kinmon Seisakusho and 58 others (25 companies and 34 persons including officials involved in order taking)

Feb. 4, 1997

Mar. 31, 1997

Dec. 24, 1997

Tokyo High Court

Fines of 5 to 9 million yen to the accused companies and 6 to 9-month prison terms for those involved in the companies’ order taking (with a 2-year reprieve). (Some of the accused parties made an appeal, which was rejected on Sept. 25, 2000.)

Market share agreement on straight ductile iron pipe

Kubota Corp. and 12 others (3 companies and 10 persons including officials involved in order taking)

Feb. 4, 1999

(Additional accusation on Mar. 1, 1999)

Mar. 1, 1999

Feb. 23, 2000

Tokyo High Court

Fines of 30 to 130 million yen to the accused companies and 6 to 10-month prison terms for those involved in the companies’ order taking (with a 2-year reprieve)

Bid rigging on petroleum products procurements by the Central Procurement Office, Japan Defense Agency

Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. and 19 others (11 companies, and 9 persons involved in order taking)

Oct. 13, 1999

(Additional accusation on Nov. 9, 1999)

Nov. 9, 1999

Currently on trial

Currently on trial

Bid rigging on purchase of water meters by Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Aichi Tokei Denki K.K and 8 others(4 companies and 5 persons involved in order taking)

July 2, 2003

July  23,

2003

Currently on trial

Currently on trial