51.   So far, eight officials from five companies have been sentenced to prison in payoff scandals that emerged last year.

52.   Stock prices eked out a mild gain Wednesday after stumbling earlier on worries about a widening payoff scandal at Japanese brokerages.

53.   The dollar was lower against the yen in early trading Thursday, while Tokyo socks fell further as a payoff scandal weighed heavily on market sentiment.

54.   The three were among six Yamaichi officials arrested last year in a separate payoff scandal.

55.   Top executives of Yamaichi step down in payoff scandal.

56.   Two Ajinomoto officials and eight suspected racketeers, including Nawa, were indicted in March in the payoff scandal.

57.   Together with Nikko, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Daiwa Securities and Nomura Securities also face charges in the racketeer payoff scandal.

58.   Tokyo share prices tumbled Friday, hurt by persistent jitters on Wall Street and a widening payoff scandal in Japan.

59.   Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric issues faced sell orders following reports that their officials were arrested overnight in a widening payoff scandal to a racketeer.

60.   Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric issues faced sell orders following reports that their top executives were arrested overnight in a widening payoff scandal.