Japanese police apologise at grave of wrongfully accused man

In Japan, a businessman named Shizuo Aishima was wrongfully accused of exporting machines that could be used for military purposes. This mistake led to his arrest, along with three other executives from his company, Ohkawara Kakohki, in March 2020. The machines in question were spray dryers, which can turn liquids into powder. Some people thought these machines could be used by the military, so the authorities believed the company was breaking export laws. However, the company argued that their products were not covered by these restrictions. Sadly, Mr. Aishima died of stomach cancer in February 2021, before he could clear his name. Five months after his death, the charges against him and the other executives were dropped because prosecutors had doubts about their guilt. On Monday, Japanese officials visited Mr. Aishima's grave in Yokohama to apologise for their mistake. They bowed deeply and placed flowers at the grave, showing respect and regret for what had happened. Mr. Aishima's family was present at the grave to receive the apology. His wife, however, said she could not forgive those responsible for the wrongful accusation.

After Mr. Aishima's death, his company sued the authorities for damages. In September 2021, a Tokyo court ruled that the indictments were illegal and ordered the police and prosecutors to pay 166 million yen, which is about 1. 12 million dollars, as compensation. The court said that the authorities had violated Mr. Aishima's human rights by detaining him illegally and refusing his bail requests, which prevented him from getting medical treatment. Mr. Aishima had asked for bail eight times, but each request was denied. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office did not appeal the court's decision, and the ruling became final on June 11. The authorities also investigated why the wrongful indictment happened, but the families of the accused said the investigation did not find the real cause of the error. They also felt that the punishments given to those responsible were too light.

Prosecutor Hiroshi Ichikawa publicly apologised for the serious human rights violation, saying that the authorities were wrong to request Mr. Aishima's detention and prosecution. He also admitted that they had deprived Mr. Aishima of opportunities for medical treatment by rejecting his bail requests. The families of the wrongfully accused are still upset and want a better explanation for what happened. They hope that the police and prosecutors will learn from this case and be more careful in the future, so that no one else will have to go through the same experience. This story highlights the importance of fairness and accuracy in the justice system, and the need for authorities to take responsibility when they make mistakes.