Tokyo, Oct. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Fair Trade Commission raided four major Japanese brewers Wednesday for allegedly forming an illegal cartel to manipulate shipment prices for beer and other products, sources familiar with the matter said. The four–Asahi Breweries Ltd., Kirin Brewery Co., Suntory Spirits Ltd. and Sapporo Breweries Ltd.–are suspected of violating the antimonopoly law. The FTC will continue its investigation, having in mind the possibility of filing a criminal complaint with public prosecutors. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
