Tokyo: A Japanese judicial panel ruled on Monday that prosecutors` decision not to charge Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama over suspected falsification of his political funding records was "appropriate", TV broadcasters said.
The decision by a panel drawn from the general public will come as a relief for the floundering Hatoyama ahead of an election his ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) needs to win to avoid policy deadlock.
Hatoyama has denied any intentional wrongdoing, but his support rates have nosedived since he took office last year, damaged by financial scandals in his party and the perception that he lacks the ability to make tough decisions on the economy and foreign policy.
Judicial panels of ordinary citizens review cases where a complaint has been made about prosecutors` decision not to indict a suspect.
Bureau Report
