PRESS CONFERENCE
The Ohkawara Kakohki case, an example of Japan's hostage justice system?
Masaaki Okawara, the president of Ohkawara Kakohki Co.
Junji Shimada, former director, Ohkawara Kakohki Co.
Tsuyoshi Takada, counsel representing Okawara, Shimada, and the family of Shizuo Aishima
14:00-15:00 Tuesday, December 19, 2023
(The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation)
A pair of Ohkawara Kakoki Co. executives claim to be victims of Japan's notorious "hostage justice" system.
In MONTHTK YEARTK three executives of the Yokohama-based machinery maker were arrested on charges of illegally exporting equipment used in producing biological weapons to China. They were indicted and claim they were detained for 331 days while awaiting trial.
During this detention, Masaaki Okawara, president of the company, and Junji Shimada, then director of the company, claim to have been repeatedly pressured to confess to a crime without the benefit of legal advice. They were also repeatedly denied bail, they say. The executives never acknowledged any wrong doing.
Four days before the first court hearing, prosecutors abruptly withdrew the indictment, saying that doubts had arisen as to whether any crime was committed.
According to an NHK documentary police fabricated the crime and prosecutors attempted to coerce confessions from the company executives.
In September 2021, Okawara and Shimada filed suit in Tokyo District Court seeking compensation for the illegal detention and coercive interrogation. The court is scheduled to deliver its judgment on December 27.
Shizuo Aishima, another Okawara director, was also arrested but died of stomach cancer while in detention. His requests for bail were rejected and he was allegedly deprived of proper medical care.
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