The Act for Partial Amendment to the Loan Business Control Act (Act No. 115 of 2006) promulgated on December 20, 2006, in order to strengthen the control over illegal loan, set up a new penalty of imprisonment with work for a definite term of 10 years as the upper limit of the statutory penalty against a significantly high interest-rate loan of more than 109.5 % per year implemented as business, and raised the upper limit of the statutory penalty from imprisonment with work for a definite term of 5 years to 10 years against non-registered business activities (enforced since January 20, 2007 in regard to this part).
  Further, the same act lowered the interest rate of more than 29.2 % per year which constitutes violation of a penalty clause against a high-interest loan conducted as business (the upper limit of the statutory penalty is imprisonment with work for a definite term of 5 years) to that of more than 20 % per year (scheduled to be enforced in about 3 years after its promulgation).
  The Act for Partial Amendment to the Act Concerning Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid Rigging, etc. (Act No. 110 of 2006) enforced since March 14, 2007, in order to prevent public sector bid-rigging thoroughly in light of the recent situation of public sector bid-rigging incidents, set up penalties, etc. concerning actions damaging fairness in bidding, etc. committed by the officials of the state, etc.