A former executive implicated in a bid-rigging scandal jumped to his death from an apartment block yesterday, only 24 hours after a government minister committed suicide on the eve of an inquiry into corruption.

Shinichi Yamazaki was wearing pyjamas when he plunged from his building into a car park in Yokohama, west of Tokyo. Mr Yamazaki, 76, was a former director of a government-affiliated agency that allegedly rigged contracts for public forestry projects for the benefit of political donors of Toshikatsu Matsuoka, the former Agriculture Minister.

Mr Matsuoka hanged himself from the door of his flat on Monday, hours before he was to face questions in parliament over a series of scandals, including the same bid-rigging process.

Police raided Mr Yamazaki’s home on Saturday as part of their inquiries, and had questioned him several times. He was due to be questioned again yesterday afternoon. Although he retired from his position in 1990, he was believed still to have influence over the agency’s operations. Last week two agency officials were also arrested as part of the investigation.

The suicide of the minister has sent shockwaves throughout Japan. Yesterday Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister, led a minute’s silence for Mr Matsuoka as a single white flower was placed on his empty seat at a Cabinet meeting. “It was extremely regrettable that his life was cut short with things only half-done,” Mr Abe, wearing a black tie, told his ministers, while urging them to stick together and keep working for the national good.

Mr Matsuoka reportedly left several suicide notes, including one addressed to the Prime Minister and the public, apologising for his actions.

Ministers and business leaders paid their respects privately at a Tokyo funeral hall before Mr Matsuoka’s body was flown to his home in the southern province of Kumamoto. Mr Abe stood outside his office and bowed deeply as the hearse carried his body to the airport. The procession also went past the Agriculture Ministry, where Mr Matsuoka’s widow and son got out of their car and held hands with crying staff.

The suicides have plunged Mr Abe’s Government into its deepest crisis, fuelling public distrust of the political system and of Mr Abe’s ability to implement reform. Newspapers across the political spectrum issued uncharacteristically strong criticism of the Prime Minister’s judgment for repeatedly rejecting calls for Mr Matsuoka to be dismissed.

Opinion polls confirm that the Mr Abe’s popularity is at its lowest since he took charge in September. With vital upper house elections less than two months away, political analysts say that it will be increasingly difficult for his ruling coalition to hold on to its majority.

The upper House of Councillors, like the House of Lords, has significant influence on the passing of new government Bills. The elections will be the first national ballot since Mr Abe came to power, and a defeat is expected to lead to swift calls for his resignation.

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