Iwao Hakamata plans to sue the central and prefectural governments for damages in August, marking the anniversary of his arrest. He was recently awarded ¥217 million for his unjust detention of over 47 years, but his legal team argues this amount is insufficient.
Iwao Hakamata, who was acquitted in a retrial of a 1966 murder case in Shizuoka Prefecture, is preparing to sue both the central and prefectural governments for damages. This legal action is planned to be initiated on August 18, which marks the anniversary of his arrest in 1966.
Recently, the Shizuoka District Court awarded Hakamata ¥217 million (approximately $1.44 million) as compensation for the unjust detention he endured for over 47 years. However, Hideyo Ogawa, head of Hakamata’s defense team, expressed that this compensation is “not enough” to address the profound harm caused by the wrongful detention.
Hakamata was initially arrested by the Shizuoka prefectural police on charges of robbery and murder concerning the death of a family of four. After his conviction in 1980, his death sentence was confirmed, yet he was granted a retrial in 2014, leading to his release by the district court. At that time, he had spent 47 years and seven months incarcerated.
He was ultimately acquitted in September of last year. Subsequently, the Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office chose not to appeal the verdict, which resulted in Hakamata’s complete exoneration.
In summary, Iwao Hakamata is poised to file lawsuits against both the central and prefectural governments for damages resulting from his wrongful conviction and lengthy imprisonment. Despite receiving substantial compensation for his unjust detention, his legal team believes it does not sufficiently address the harm inflicted upon him. Hakamata’s case remains a significant highlight of wrongful conviction discussions in Japan.
Original Source: www.japantimes.co.jp
