Japan awards $1.4M to wrongly convicted prisoner after 46 years in prison
Published March 25th, 2025 - 08:55 GMT
ALBAWABA – The Japanese government awarded a man $1.4 million for being wrongly convicted of murder. The man spent nearly 46 years in prison and was recently released. Also Read American man awarded $7M for 48 years of wrongful imprisonment Iwao Hakamada was awarded $1.4M by the Japanese government
Iwao Hakamada was convicted of a quadruple murder and spent nearly 46 years in prison. Hakamada was wrongly imprisoned and became the world's longest-serving death row prisoner. He was recently released and awarded $1.4 million by the Japanese government as compensation.
According to officials, Hakamada received $83 (12,500 yen) for every day he spent in prison over the 46 years. Hakamada, now 89 years old, was a boxer before his conviction. He was released in 2024 after being proven innocent.
This photo taken on September 29, 2024 shows Iwao Hakamada (L) speaking as his then 91-year-old sister Hideko (R) holds the microphone during a judgement report session held by supporters in the city of Shizuoka. (AFP)
'The claimant shall be granted 217,362,500,000 yen,' stated The Shizuoka District Court, according to AFP.The legal team behind Hakamada believes the compensation amount is not enough, given the conditions he suffered and endured during the 46 years he spent in prison. 'Inhumane interrogations meant to force a statement (confession),' stated the court.
Hakamada is severely suffering both physically and mentally, as he endured years of waiting for his execution. Notably, Hakamada is the world's longest-serving death row prisoner, and he ranks fourth among the five individuals who were previously released. Also Read Perplexity plans to acquire TikTok, revealing its strategy
© 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Jordan News
6 hours ago
- Jordan News
Iranian TV: Israeli Drones on 'Espionage Mission' Shot Down - Jordan News
Iranian TV: Israeli Drones on 'Espionage Mission' Shot Down Iranian state television announced on Saturday that Iranian forces shot down Israeli drones that were conducting 'espionage and reconnaissance' missions in northwestern Iran. اضافة اعلان The report stated that the drones had violated Iranian airspace in the border region of Salmas before being successfully downed by Iranian forces. — (AFP)
Roya News
3 days ago
- Roya News
Swedish court hears brother's testimony in trial over Jordanian pilot's execution
In a landmark trial described as the first of its kind in a case that sparked global outrage, a Swedish court has heard a moving testimony from the brother of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh, who was brutally burned alive by Daesh in Syria in 2015. The trial concerns Osama Krayem, a Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin, charged with involvement in the crime, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Joudat al-Kasasbeh, a lawyer and the brother of the late pilot, told the Stockholm court about the ongoing psychological and physical suffering his family has endured for over a decade. He revealed that their mother was hospitalized immediately upon learning of Muath's execution, his older sister developed diabetes, and his father suffers from chronic illnesses and a deeply mournful mental state, frequently breaking down in tears. Joudat recounted receiving news of his brother's capture in late 2014 and rushing to the Jordanian Air Force headquarters. There, the commander informed him that the pilot was believed to be held captive inside Syria. 'I was in a very bad state mentally,' he said. During Wednesday's session, the accused, Osama Krayem, remained silent and refused to answer questions from the prosecution, avoiding eye contact with prosecutor Henrik Olin. However, in a previous interrogation in February, Krayem claimed he did not know what would happen at the execution site and insisted he stayed no longer than 20 minutes before noticing cameras. 'I was terrified. That was the first time I saw someone being burned,' he said. Muath al-Kasasbeh's plane was shot down on December 24, 2014, near Raqqa, then the Daesh stronghold in Syria. Approximately six weeks later, Daesh released a horrifying video showing the pilot inside a metal cage, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, before being set on fire. The trial, which began on June 4, marks the first judicial action against a suspect linked to this crime, which had a profound impact in Jordan, especially since al-Kasasbeh was part of an international coalition led by the United States fighting the terrorist group.
Roya News
3 days ago
- Roya News
Macron pushes social media ban for under 15s after fatal school stabbing
French officials are moving quickly to introduce stricter regulations on youth safety after a 14-year-old boy fatally stabbed a school teaching assistant during a routine bag search at a secondary school in Nogent, eastern France. The victim, 31-year-old Mélanie, had been working at the school since September after transitioning from her previous job as a hairdresser. She was a mother to a four-year-old son and served as a local council member in a nearby village, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. "She was great with kids," said Laurence Raclot, a friend and community member. 'In a quiet little town, we never would have thought this could happen.' Tributes have poured in, with flowers and heartfelt notes placed outside the school. One message read, 'We share your pain.' Another resident, Sabrina Renault, expressed sorrow for the family, 'It's really sad… for that little boy who's left without his mum.' Authorities have extended the suspect's custody for an additional 24 hours as investigations continue. Officials have released few details about the boy's motive. In response to the tragedy, President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to restrict access to social media for children under 15, arguing that platforms already possess the tools to verify users' ages. 'I am proposing banning social media for children under 15,' Macron wrote on X. 'Platforms have the ability to verify age. Let's do it.' C'est une recommandation des experts de la commission écrans : je porte l'interdiction des réseaux sociaux avant 15 ans. Les plateformes ont la possibilité de vérifier l'âge. Faisons-le. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 10, 2025 Greece, France, and Spain are jointly backing a broader EU initiative to limit young people's exposure to social platforms, citing growing concerns about mental and physical health impacts. Macron warned that France would proceed independently with the ban if no regional consensus is reached soon. Prime Minister François Bayrou's office also confirmed a forthcoming decree to prohibit knife sales to minors within the next two weeks. Speaking on TF1, Bayrou said the ban would take effect 'immediately' and cover 'any knife that can be used as a weapon.' Bayrou also urged parents and educators to be alert to signs of distress in adolescents, while acknowledging a national shortage of psychological support staff. He has suggested launching a pilot program for metal detectors in schools. Education Minister Elisabeth Borne announced that schools across France will observe a minute of silence on Thursday in honor of Mélanie. 'The entire educational community is in shock, as is the whole nation,' Borne said in a radio interview. While officials are calling for swift reforms, some educators and unions have raised concerns. Sophie Venetitay, head of the SNES-FSU teachers' union, cautioned against shifting educational staff into security roles. 'Little by little, we have seen attempts to turn them into security guards,' she said.
