大川原おおかわら化工かこう機き冤罪えんざい事件じけん 警視庁けいしちょうが検証けんしょう結果けっか公表こうひょうへ 幹部かんぶら処分しょぶんも

The president of Okawara Kakoki in Yokohama City and two others were arrested, but it later became clear that they were innocent in a false accusation case. It has been learned from interviews with those involved that the Metropolitan Police Department is currently coordinating to soon release the results of an investigation, which will state that senior officials of the Public Security Bureau at the time failed to fulfill their responsibilities in overseeing the investigation.

The police authorities plan to discipline, or consider discipline appropriate for, both current and former executives, including retirees.

Executives including Masaaki Okawara, the president of Yokohama-based chemical machinery manufacturer Okawara Kakoki, were arrested and indicted five years ago for illegally exporting machinery that could be used for military purposes. However, the charges were later dropped and their innocence was proven.

The president and others filed a lawsuit claiming they suffered pain due to illegal investigations, and this May, the Tokyo High Court recognized the illegality of the investigations conducted by the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, ordering the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the national government to pay a total of over 166 million yen in compensation. This ruling has been finalized.

In response to this, the Metropolitan Police Department has established a verification team headed by the Deputy Superintendent General and is proceeding with an examination of the issues in the series of investigations. According to interviews with those involved, they are making arrangements to announce the results soon.

The verification report is expected to state that reports on the status of the investigation to senior officials such as the head of the Public Security Department had become a mere formality, and that these senior officials were not fulfilling their responsibilities in directing the investigation.

Based on the results of the investigation, the police authorities plan to discipline, or consider discipline appropriate for, both current and former executives, including retirees.

In addition, the Metropolitan Police Department plans to introduce measures to prevent a recurrence, such as implementing investigation meetings overseen by the head of the Public Security Bureau for important cases, and establishing a new department within the Public Security General Affairs Division to supervise and guide investigations.

According to those involved, the National Police Agency plans to instruct police departments across the country to take measures such as recording and videotaping interrogations in connection with some cases of illegal exports.

Regarding this false accusation case, the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office is also reviewing the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office’s investigation at the time, and is expected to compile and announce the results soon.