Tokyo, Japan (CNN) -- A political heavyweight nicknamed the "Shadow Shogun" should be indicted over a political funds scandal, an independent judicial panel has recommended to Japanese prosecutors.
Ichiro Ozawa, who is known for backroom political deals, is former secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, or DPJ.
Prosecutors are likely to indict Ozawa, given the panel's decision. He would be the first politician indicted under the system.
"I sincerely apologize for causing a stir over the issue of my fund management organization," Ozawa said in response to the decision. "I have told the prosecutor's office everything I know, and it was decided twice not to indict me."
"I am convinced my innocence will be confirmed in the trial," he said.
The independent citizens' panel said authorities inadequately investigated Ozawa's role in questionable financial reporting by his political funding organization in 2004 and 2005.
The panel made its decision last month, but revealed it Monday.
Last month, Naoto Kan defeated Ozawa to keep his job as Japan's prime minister. Kan won enough votes to continue leading the DPJ. The majority party leader typically is the prime minister.
The prime minister, who received word of the indictment decision, declined to comment.
The two men -- and Yukio Hatoyama, the prime minister before Kan -- worked together to bring the DPJ into power more than a year ago, booting out the Liberal Democratic Party, which had ruled Japan continuously for almost 50 years. The political funding scandal forced Ozawa to resign as party leader late last year and Kan publicly distanced himself from his ally.
During the campaign, Kan reminded the public of Ozawa's controversial past.
"Mr. Ozawa should tell Japan what kind of prime minister he would like to be," Kan said at one campaign event, insinuating that Ozawa was a political wheeler-dealer, not a statesman.
"I have to be myself," Ozawa said in response. "I will implement polices as the prime minister in a sincere manner. We have to put our priorities on improving the lives of the people."
Many politicians owe their jobs to deals struck by Ozawa, a political operative in Japan for four decades.
"I became prime minister, thanks to Mr. Ichiro Ozawa's gracious guidance. I must repay him," Hatoyama said during the campaign between Kan and Ozawa.
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