Japan’s agriculture minister apologized for double booking expense claims, news reports said Saturday, marking the latest embarrassment for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government ahead of an expected tight upper house election race.

Norihiko Akagi, whose predecessor committed suicide in May hours before he was to face legislative questioning over his own financial scandal, apologized for what he called administrative errors.

Asahi, a major Japanese daily newspaper, reported Friday that two political groups connected to Akagi attached the same photocopied receipts to doubly book expenses worth about $1,665 for postage in 2003, when he was a member of the lower house.

Officials at Akagi’s office were not available for comment Saturday.

Falsifying political fund reports can be punished by jail terms of up to five years or a maximum fine of $8,335 under Japanese laws.

Soon after taking office, Akagi came under fire over allegations by Japanese media and opposition leaders that he reported dubious office expenses totaling $851,000, prompting calls from the opposition bloc for Akagi’s resignation. Abe rejected the calls. Akagi has denied the allegations.