NHK has learned that business suit retailer Aoki Holdings may have started asking favors from a former executive of the Tokyo Games organizing committee before the two sides formed a consulting contract.

The former executive, Takahashi Haruyuki, was arrested on Wednesday. He is suspected of receiving bribes totaling 51 million yen, or about 380,000 dollars, from former Aoki Holdings Chairman Aoki Hironori and two others over sponsorship and licensing contracts for the Tokyo Games.

The three on the Aoki side were also arrested.

The Aoki side paid between about 3,700 dollars and 7,400 dollars a month after it signed a consulting contract with Takahashi's firm in September 2017.

Sources told NHK that the Aoki side is suspected of asking Takahashi to give preferential treatment over the sponsorship contract for the Games at least several months before the consulting deal was signed.

The sources said the Aoki side is also suspected of having contact frequently with Takahashi until around June last year. They added that the Aoki side may have asked Takahashi to prod the organizing committee to speed up the screening of official licensed products the firm manufactured and sold.

Tokyo prosecutors believe the Aoki side continued to provide bribes to Takahashi under the pretext of consulting fees as a reward for favors.

The prosecutors have not disclosed whether the arrested people have admitted to the charges. But the sources said Takahashi denied any wrongdoing during questioning before his arrest.