TOKYO (AP) — Takeshi Niinami, chief executive of Japan’s major beverage maker Suntory, resigned Tuesday to take responsibility for being under investigation for alleged possession of an illegal drug.

Suntory Holdings President Nobuhiro Torii, who is from the company’s founding family, told reporters the company had accepted Niinami’s resignation.

Torii was vague about details such as the type of allegedly illegal drug, saying the case was still under investigation.

Niinami, 66, is an prominent business leader who is credited with guiding strong growth at Suntory, which makes whisky, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. He became the company’s chief executive in 2014, and has won respect across the industry for his prominent role in lobbies that represent industry to the government.

“He wa

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