TOKYO: One of Japan's most influential political powerbrokers, ruling party ex-leader Ichiro Ozawa, who has long faced graft allegations, goes on trial Thursday over a political funding scandal.
Three of Ozawa's aides have already been convicted on charges they falsified reports about money handled by his political fund management body, but he is expected to plead not guilty to related accusations.
Ozawa, 69, heads the biggest faction in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and is a veteran backroom operator who narrowly failed to oust Naoto Kan in a leadership battle a year ago.
Kan announced his resignation in August this year after being criticised for his response to the March 11 quake-tsunami-nuclear disaster.
Ozawa's trial, which has gripped Japanese public attention, comes after an official panel of citizen judicial reviewers overturned a decision by prosecutors to drop the case due to a lack of evidence.
It is the first time in Japan that such a panel has forced an indictment by court-appointed lawyers, sidelining prosecutors.
Japan's mainstream media has long been critical of Ozawa's strong political influence, which is based on his vast wealth and allegedly lucrative connections.
Because of Ozawa's power, Japanese media often gauge senior ruling party members by strength of their relationships with him.
But his supporters say Ozawa has been unfairly targeted by opponents of his drive to weaken the overwhelming influence of bureaucrats in decision-making and bring politics back to the people.
Ozawa was indicted in January and his DPJ membership was suspended the following month. His trial is scheduled to continue until March and a verdict will be handed down in April, according to local media reports.
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