A Japanese court has awarded 1.45 million dollars to Hakamada Iwao, acquitted after 59 years of wrongful imprisonment for murder. His defense team indicated this is the highest compensation for such a case in Japan. The court highlighted the extreme suffering he endured, including inhumane treatment and fabricated evidence during his detention.
A court in central Japan has recently mandated that over 217 million yen, equivalent to approximately 1.45 million dollars, be awarded to Hakamada Iwao, who was acquitted of murder after 59 years. This compensation is regarded as the highest of its kind within the nation for wrongful imprisonment. Hakamada was previously accused of murdering a family of four in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1966 and was initially sentenced to death, with that decision later being overturned in a retrial last October.
At the age of 89, Hakamada’s situation came to judicial attention when his defense team, alongside his guardian lawyer appointed by his sister Hideko, requested compensation for his wrongful custody. The guardian asserted that Hakamada was unjustly imprisoned for an extensive period of 47 years and seven months, advocating for compensation at the daily maximum rate permitted by law. Subsequently, the Shizuoka District Court determined to grant him the full compensation amount.
Presiding Judge Kunii Koshi emphasized that Hakamada endured 33 years of detention under capital punishment conditions, which inflicted severe mental and physical distress. The judge highlighted that Hakamada had been subjected to brutal questioning tactics organized by multiple investigative authorities. Furthermore, false evidence was manufactured, including five fabricated clothing items used to support the prosecution, which ultimately led to repeated court convictions against him.
The ruling for Hakamada Iwao’s compensation marks a significant moment in Japanese legal history, shedding light on the repercussions of wrongful convictions. The court’s acknowledgment of the severe injustices he faced during nearly five decades of imprisonment underscores the critical need for reform in judicial processes. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding individual rights against miscarriages of justice.
Original Source: www3.nhk.or.jp
