On August 31, 2023, the Niigata Prefecture Shibata Regional Development Bureau Rural Development Department conducted a competitive bidding process for the Hiragida Yanahara District Water Intake Construction First Phase (hereinafter referred to as "the project"). The former director of the Rural Development Department provided confidential information, including the estimated price, to an advisor of a construction company in Shibata City. A former director of Ono Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "the former corporate director") along with two others used deception to interfere with the fairness of the public bidding process for the contract. As a result, the former corporate director was found to have violated Article 96-6, Paragraph 1 (obstruction of public contract-related auctions, etc.) and Article 60 (joint principal) of the Penal Code, and was sentenced to one year in prison with a three-year suspension on January 29, 2024, by the Niigata District Court, with the sentence finalized on February 14, 2024. This conduct is recognized as corresponding to Items 2 and 3 of Article 28, Paragraph 1 of the Construction Business Act.