Tokyo prosecutors are said to be preparing to raid offices related to two major factions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party over a political fund scandal.

NHK has learned from sources familiar with the plans that they have decided to search the offices related to the Abe and Nikai factions as early as Tuesday.

The factions are suspected of paying kickbacks to member lawmakers who sold fundraising party tickets in excess of their quota, without recording the amount as revenue in their political fund reports.

The sources said almost all members of the Abe faction are suspected of receiving kickbacks and failing to record them. The kickbacks Abe faction members failed to declare are said to amount to roughly 500 million yen, or about 3.5 million dollars, over the five years through 2022.

The amount of revenue from fundraising parties that the Nikai faction kept off its political fund reports is believed to stand at roughly 700,000 dollars over the same period.

The accountants of the Abe and Nikai factions were questioned by prosecutors on a voluntary basis, and they admitted to not declaring some revenue from fundraising parties. The prosecutors believe the practice was systematic.

Several Abe faction members who received large kickbacks are also being questioned by prosecutors on a voluntary basis.