The government will launch a probe this month into whether a contract for its coronavirus relief package was handled appropriately, industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said Monday.

The move comes amid questions over a program to provide cash benefits to small and medium-sized businesses hit hard by the outbreak, which was contracted for 76.9 billion yen ($702 million) only to be subcontracted out to advertising agency Dentsu Inc. for 74.9 billion yen.

Kajiyama said the probe would be carried out by an independent body such as an auditor within the month.

==Kyodo

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