In the first case negotiated under the newly introduced system of plea bargaining in Japan, employees of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power System are being investigated by prosecutors for allegedly giving bribes to Thai officials. According to the company, the case came to light through an internal whistle blower procedure, at which point the company contacted the authorities. In exchange for full co-operation from the company, the prosecutors will investigate the employees alleged to have given bribes, and not pursue corporate legal responsibility.

The Japanese system of plea bargaining was introduced amid controversy in June of this year. Questions are sure to be asked as to why the new system was used to target ‘small fry’ as opposed to the ‘big fish’, as was the justification for the new system.