Two accused of illegally selling riflescopes to China, Germany

Saitama (Japan) Feb 14 (Kyodo) Japanese Police has accused two people of exporting riflescopes to China and Germany without permission from the government, authorities said today. Police sent papers to prosecutors on an executive and a former employee of an optical instrument maker, Vixen Co. On suspicion, investigative sources said. The two accused, both in their 60s, allegedly exported a total of around 10 riflescopes, regarded as attachments to weapons, to Germany in 2008 and to China in 2009, without obtaining approval of the economy, trade and industry minister in violation of the foreign exchange law, according to the investigation. Vixen, based in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, said on its website that while it has obtained permission to export formal products, it failed to follow the proper legal procedures for exporting the samples. (KYODO) GJS 02141431 NNNN