Sunday Times: Japanese Officials Bought Votes on International Whaling Commission With Aid and Prostitutes

The London Sunday Times has published the results of an investigation that allegedly show that officials from six countries were involved in a scheme by Japanese officials to buy votes on the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

Japan continues its global effort to shatter the 24-year moratorium on commercial whaling.

Officials reportedly admitted to the Sunday Times that (1) they voted with the whalers because of the large amounts of aid from Japan, (2) received cash payments in envelopes for travel and hotel expenses, and (3) were offered the services of call girls.
According to the article, officials with St Kitts and Nevis, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Grenada, Republic of Guinea and Ivory Coast all discussed selling their votes. In one case, the paper reports that the minister from Guinea was given $1,000 a day spending money in cash during IWC and other fisheries meetings.

The IWC commissioner for Tanzania allegedly said that “good girls” were made available at the hotels for officials.

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