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Asahi Shimbun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Police probe releases scathing report in falsely accused firm case
Yuji Sakoda, chief of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, apologizes for the falsely accused Ohkawara Kakohki officials in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Aug. 7. (Shota Tomonaga) An internal police review criticized a "dysfunctional" investigative chain of command that led to three officials of a Yokohama-based company being falsely accused of exporting equipment that could be used as biologial weapons. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the National Police Agency and the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office announced on Aug. 7 the findings that outlined issues with the investigation of Ohkawara Kakohki Co. and bail procedures. While 19 officials from the MPD's Public Security Bureau at the time of the investigation were disciplined, no disciplinary action was taken against any prosecutors. 'I once again deeply apologize to the three individuals arrested and everyone else investigated for the significant trouble and anguish we put them through,' MPD Chief Yuji Sakoda said at a news conference. Yoshinobu Kusunoki, commissioner-general of the NPA, said, 'Public security and foreign affairs departments nationwide will sincerely reflect on the shortcomings revealed in this case and will ensure that measures are implemented to prevent a recurrence.' In response to the release of the probe, Ohkawara Kakohki, which manufactures and exports spray dryers, held a news conference on the same day. Masaaki Okawara, 76, the company president and one of the three individuals who were arrested, expressed his disapproval, saying that the review left 'personal accountability extremely vague.' 'This is because the review was conducted internally,' he said. Ohkawara Kakohki had been calling for an independent review that includes a third party. The MPD's review was based on the finalized court ruling that fully acknowledged the illegality of the Public Security Bureau's investigation. The review concluded that the chain of command was flawed in its operation because senior officials including the head of the bureau failed to properly direct the investigation, leading to 'grave errors' such as the unlawful arrests. The probe listed specific problems, such as that investigators failed to reconsider their own interpretation of the regulations—even after the trade ministry raised doubts. Furthermore, when an experiment with the company's equipment produced results that contradicted the investigation's premise, investigators neither conducted a follow-up inquiry nor shared the findings with senior Public Security Bureau officials and prosecutors. The review also addressed the MPD's actions after the indictment was withdrawn. It withdrew the MPD's claim in the state compensation lawsuit that the testimony of active-duty police officers—who stated that the case was a 'fabrication'—was purely 'grand fiction.' The review stated that this action 'could discourage officers from freely expressing their opinions in the future.' The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office, in its own review report, pointed out that prosecutors had failed to properly evaluate exculpatory evidence that could have weakened the suspicion of guilt when they decided to indict. Regarding their continued opposition to bail requests, the review noted that their response 'must be described as inappropriate.' The state compensation lawsuit revealed that when an investigator suggested revisiting the MPD's case strategy, a senior official shut the possibility down, saying, 'Will you take responsibility for dropping the case?" However, the MPD's review did not acknowledge this exchange. Tsuyoshi Takada, a lawyer representing Ohkawara Kakohki, said that the review was insufficient. Takada criticized the disciplinary action taken against the police officers as 'too lenient,' stating, 'This is a direct reflection of the inadequate review.' Takada also called the lack of any punishment for prosecutors a 'very serious problem.' In its report, the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office acknowledged that the prosecutor's continued opposition to granting bail to Shizuo Aishima, a company adviser who died after his release was denied, was 'inappropriate.' Takada praised this specific finding. On the other hand, there has been no move for a review by the judiciary, which denied the bail request. 'We are not demanding a formal review," Takada said. "We just want them to learn from this case and recognize that their work can cost a person their life.' The bereaved family of Aishima, which has not accepted an apology from the officials, did not attend the company's news conference. Takada read a statement from Aishima's eldest son, which said, 'It is a step forward that they have established some solid preventative measures. We will now deliberate on how we would like to be apologized to.' (This article was written by Hiraku Higa, Hikaru Yokoyama, Yusuke Morishita, Noriki Nishioka and senior staff writer Shimpachi Yoshida.)
Asahi Shimbun
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
No appeal of major award to falsely accused firm will be filed
Ohkawara Kakohki President Masaaki Okawara, center, and other plaintiffs hold up signs declaring their victory in the Tokyo High Court ruling on May 28. (Shota Tomonaga) Police and prosecutors announced on June 11 that they will not appeal the Tokyo High Court's order to pay 166 million yen ($1.14 million) in damages for the illegal investigation of a manufacturer and exporter of spray dryers. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office apologized to Ohkawara Kakohki Co. officials and pledged to review the investigation. June 11 was the deadline for the appeal. With this decision, the high court's ruling that found the arrests and prosecutions of the plaintiffs to be illegal becomes finalized. The MPD released a statement, saying, 'We take the ruling very seriously and deeply apologize for the great burden and trouble we have caused to the parties involved by the investigation.' The MPD said that it has set up an investigation team headed by the deputy commissioner to review the problems with the investigation and compile measures to prevent a recurrence. The prosecutors office also released a statement, saying, 'We sincerely accept that the prosecution was found illegal even by the appeal court.' It said that the Supreme Prosecutors Office will examine the case in the future. In 2020, the president of the Yokohama-based company and two others were arrested and indicted on suspicion of violating the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law for exporting spray-drying machines that could be used for military purposes without a license. However, the prosecutors office canceled the indictment in 2021, just before the first trial. Prior to their arrests, the president and others had repeatedly explained that the machines 'were not subject to the requirements of export regulations and did not need a permit.' The high court in its ruling on May 28 concluded that if the MPD, which was in charge of the investigation, had conducted additional tests on the machines based on the explanation of the president and others, it would not have been deemed an illegal export. The high court also found that the original interpretation adopted by the MPD regarding export regulations was not appropriate and that there was 'no reasonable basis' for the arrests. The court also found that it was illegal for the MPD to rewrite the interrogation statement to conform to the findings of the MPD and have a former company officer sign it without explaining the contents. The high court also said that the prosecutors office failed to conduct the necessary tests, even though the company president's and others' statement had been reported to the prosecutors office. There was no reasonable basis for the prosecution and its actions were illegal, the high court ruled. In response to the ruling, the plaintiffs had submitted a written request and signatures to the MPD and the prosecutors office on June 9, urging them not to file an appeal. More than 41,000 signatures were collected online as of noon on June 8, the plaintiffs said. (This article was written by Saori Kuroda, and senior staff writer Shimpachi Yoshida.)
Asahi Shimbun
16-05-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
100 varieties of roses in full bloom at Kyu-Furukawa park
Roses are in full bloom at Kyu-Furukawa Gardens park in Tokyo's Kita Ward on May 14. (Shota Tomonaga) Spring roses are now in full bloom at Kyu-Furukawa Gardens park, which is famed for its stone Western-style building, in Tokyo's Kita Ward. Repair work of the exterior walls of the building was completed in March. Visitors can now enjoy the stately building and 100 varieties of roses. The best time to view the vibrant-colored flowers is expected to last until the end of May. On a recent day, many visitors were taking pictures with the building and roses in the background and smelling the fragrance of the flowers. According to Wataru Ono, director of the park's service center, spring roses are characterized by the size of their petals. "The roses are at their most beautiful when they start to bloom," he said. "I hope you will come as soon as possible because now is the best time to see them."
