Tokyo prosecutors indicted a lawmaker on Wednesday on charges of accepting bribes from a Tokyo-based renewable energy company in connection with offshore wind power generation projects.

The prosecutors allege that Lower House member Akimoto Masatoshi received about 72 million yen, or around 483,000 dollars, as loans and funds from the ex-president, Tsukawaki Masayuki, in return for Diet hearings to benefit his company.

The 48-year-old lawmaker has left the governing Liberal Democratic Party.

Informed sources say Akimoto is denying the charges.

The prosecutors say Tsukawaki urged Akimoto multiple times to ask questions between 2019 and 2022.

Around the time Akimoto received the money, he asked questions in Diet sessions aligning with the company's interests. At one time, he called on the government not to impose excessive restrictions off Aomori Prefecture where the company was trying to win bids for a wind power generation project.

Akimoto reportedly used the money to purchase racehorses and as operation costs for the racehorse owners' union he established with Tsukawaki.

Tsukawaki was also indicted without arrest for giving Akimoto bribes worth about 275,000 dollars, which are not subject to a statute of limitations.

Sources say Tsukawaki has admitted to urging Akimoto to ask questions at the Diet and giving him payments in return.

Akimoto is reportedly saying the money he received does not constitute bribes and he did not pose questions at Diet hearings because he was asked to.

The prosecutors also indicted Akimoto on charges of fraud. They say the company under his management fraudulently received the government's subsidy for businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic totaling around 13,400 dollars.