Japan prosecutors launch criminal probe into ruling party's Abe faction — Nikkei

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's prosecutors have decided to launch a criminal probe into the ruling party's biggest faction over a fundraising scandal, Nikkei reported on Thursday, in a further blow to the Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's embattled administration.

From Thursday, the prosecutors will start questioning dozens of lawmakers for allegations of receiving about 500 million yen ($3.50 million) in total in fundraising proceeds missing from official party accounts, Kyodo news reported.

Kishida on Wednesday announced he would replace some of his cabinet members in a bid to stem the fallout from the scandal in his Liberal Democratic Party, centered around the Seiwa-kai faction often referred to as "Abe faction". ($1 = 142.9400 yen) — Reuters