NAGOYA - The president of Nagoya-based adhesive maker Asai was arrested Friday on suspicion of deliberately selling tainted rice to a wholesaler for human consumption.

Toshinori Asai, 57, was arrested by a joint investigative team of the Aichi and Mie prefectural police over the selling of rice contaminated with the pesticide methamidophos. Such an act constitutes a sale of substandard foodstuffs in violation of the Food Sanitation Law.

Investigators searched Asai's home and his company headquarters, among other locations.

Asai has denied the charges, reportedly saying, "I never sold tainted rice for human consumption."

According to police, Asai paid the government about 1,300 yen to purchase about 270 kilograms of China-produced, contaminated glutinous rice between May and August 2007, rice he said was for industrial use.

He then allegedly resold the rice to Nonogaki Kokuhan, a rice wholesaler based in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, for 13,500 yen, knowing it would be sold for human consumption.

According to sources, Asai bought 570 tons of contaminated rice from the government for about 5 yen per kilogram between December 2006 and May 2007, all of which he sold to Nonogaki Kokuhan for about 50 yen per kilogram for a total profit of about 18.6 million yen.

The rice was sold to additional parties and ultimately used in such items as sweets and school lunches.

Nonogaki Kokuhan has said it did not know the rice was contaminated and intended only for nonedible use, but the investigation team believes the company was aware of the status of the rice and intends to take action against the people involved.

Asai is currently undergoing bankruptcy procedures.

Offices searched for evidence

Six investigators with the Aichi prefectural police entered Asai's home in Mizuho Ward, Nagoya, at 5:10 a.m. Friday. About 20 minutes later, three investigators led Asai, who covered his face with a cream-colored suit jacket, out of the front door.

About 40 journalists and photographers waiting outside Asai's home bathed him in a flood of camera flashes and peppered him with questions.

"Were you aware the rice would be used as food?" one of them asked Asai before he entered a police van. Asai remained silent throughout.

The prefectural police then searched Asai's home and his company headquarters nearby, removing about 50 boxes of documents and other items.

Six investigators also appeared at Nonogaki Kokuhan before 6 a.m. Friday and searched the premises for about 3-1/2 hours. The curtains and shutters were closed on the two-story building, which serves as both an office and a private residence, making it impossible to see inside.