*ABE'S* NO ABYSS

JAPAN'S Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is ''not involved'' in doctoring documents : Key official.

Japanese officials at the heart of cronyism and cover-up scandal that has dented Shinzo Abe's popularity said Tuesday the prime minister's office was not involved in falsifying documents.

In hotly awaited parliamentary testimony broadcast live on national television, Nobuhisa and Sagawa said only his office took part in altering key documents relating to-

Controversial land sale, potentially easing the pressure on the very embattled Abe.

''This is an issue only for the finance bureau {of the ministry}.......therefore we never reported outside the finance bureau........not to mention reporting to the prime minister's office,'' said Sagawa, 60.

He added that neither Abe nor his cabinet secretary or finance minister had ordered the alterations.

Sagawa's testimony came as fresh polls showed public support for Abe's government plunging by double digits, apparently due to the scandal, amid opposition calls for the prime minister to resign.

However, Sagawa declined to answer detailed questioning about how and when documents were altered, saying he was under criminal investigation.

This sparked  furious scenes  in the normally restrained  Japanese parliament, as opposition lawmakers jeered and dismissed the testimony as waste of time.

''There is no point in us asking more questions,'' shouted Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Akira Koike.

The scandal revolves around  2016 cut-price sale of state-owned land to a nationalist school operator who claims ties to Abe and his wife Akie.

The scandal deepened when the finance ministry admitted official records of the sale were altered, with reference to Abe, his wife and Finance Minister Taro Aso scrubbed.

Abe has apologised repeatedly, but denies any wrongdoing and has pledged thorough investigation.

''I am deeply sorry if this has undermined public trust in civil servants across the nation,'' Sagawa said bowing deeply before MPs.

Sagawa also backed Abe's assertion that he neither his wife were involved in the sale. [Agencies]