横浜市の
化学機械メーカー「
大川原化工機」の
社長ら3
人が
警視庁公安部に
不正輸出の
疑いで
逮捕され、
その後、
無実が
明らかになった
えん罪事件をめぐる
民事裁判の2
審で、
東京高等裁判所は1
審に
続いて
警視庁公安部と
検察の
捜査の
違法性を
認め、
都と
国にあわせて1
億6600
万円余りの
賠償を
命じる判決を
言い渡しました。
The president and two others from Yokohama-based chemical machinery manufacturer Okawara Kakoki were arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Bureau on suspicion of illegal export, but were later proven innocent. In the second trial of the civil lawsuit over this false accusation case, the Tokyo High Court, following the first trial, recognized the illegality of the investigation by the Public Security Bureau and the prosecution, and ordered the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the state to pay a total of over 166 million yen in compensation.
横浜市の化学機械メーカー「大川原化工機」の大川原正明社長など幹部3人は5年前の2020年、軍事転用が可能な機械を中国などに不正に輸出した疑いで逮捕、起訴されましたが、その後、起訴が取り消され、無実が明らかになりました。
Executives including Masaaki Okawara, president of Yokohama-based chemical machinery manufacturer Okawara Kakoki, were arrested and indicted five years ago in 2020 on suspicion of illegally exporting machinery that could be diverted for military use to countries such as China. However, the charges were later dropped and their innocence was proven.
社長らは「違法な捜査で苦痛を受けた」と訴えを起こし、1審の東京地方裁判所は都と国に賠償を命じ、双方が控訴していました。
The company president and others filed a lawsuit claiming they suffered pain due to illegal investigations. The Tokyo District Court in the first trial ordered the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the national government to pay compensation, and both sides appealed.
28日の2審の判決で東京高等裁判所の太田晃詳裁判長は、警視庁公安部の捜査について「輸出規制の要件についての警視庁公安部の解釈は国際的な合意と異なり、合理性を欠いていた。
In the appellate court ruling on the 28th, Presiding Judge Akiyoshi Ota of the Tokyo High Court stated regarding the investigation by the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, The interpretation of the export control requirements by the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department differed from international consensus and lacked rationality.
経済産業省の
担当部署から
問題点を
指摘されたのに
再考することなく、
逮捕に
踏み切った
判断には
基本的な
問題があった」と
指摘し、
違法だったと
認定しました。
The court pointed out that despite the problems being pointed out by the relevant department of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the decision to proceed with the arrest without reconsideration was fundamentally flawed, and ruled that it was illegal.
逮捕された元取締役の島田順司さんへの取り調べについても「欺くような方法で捜査機関の見立てに沿った調書に署名させた」と指摘し、違法と判断しました。
Regarding the interrogation of former board member Junji Shimada, who was arrested, it was also pointed out that he was made to sign a statement that matched the investigators assumptions by deceptive means, and this was deemed illegal.
検察の捜査についても「通常要求される捜査をしていれば、輸出規制の対象に当たらない証拠を得ることができた。
Regarding the prosecutions investigation, If the usual required investigation had been conducted, evidence could have been obtained showing that it did not fall under export restrictions.
起訴の
判断は、
合理的な
根拠を
欠いていた」として
違法と
指摘しました。
The decision to prosecute was deemed illegal, as it lacked reasonable grounds.
その上で、1審よりも逮捕された3人の慰謝料などをおよそ400万円増額し、都と国にあわせて1億6600万円余りの賠償を命じました。
On top of that, the court increased the compensation for the three people who were arrested by about 4 million yen compared to the first trial, ordering the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the national government to pay a total of over 166 million yen in damages.
大川原社長「深く吟味し判決出していただいた」
判決が言い渡されたあと、東京高等裁判所の前で原告や弁護士たちは「違法捜査を認定」や「全面勝訴」などと書かれた紙を掲げました。
President Okawara said, They carefully considered the case and delivered a verdict. After the verdict was announced, the plaintiffs and lawyers held up signs in front of the Tokyo High Court with phrases like Illegal Investigation Recognized and Complete Victory.
集まった人たちからは拍手が起こり、原告の1人、「大川原化工機」の大川原正明社長は、「おめでとうございます」という呼びかけに対して、「ありがとうございます」と答えていました。
Applause broke out among the gathered people, and in response to someone saying Congratulations to Masaaki Okawara, president of Okawara Kakoki and one of the plaintiffs, he replied, Thank you.
大川原社長は、取材陣に対し、「判決を聞いて安心しました。
President Okawara told the press, I was relieved to hear the verdict.
1
審よりも
深く
吟味して
判決を
出していただいたと
思っています」と
話しました。
I believe that the verdict was reached after a more thorough examination than in the first trial, he said.
また、
勾留中にがんが
見つかり、
起訴が
取り消される
前に
亡くなった
相嶋静夫さんについて「まずは
この結果を
相嶋さんに
きっちり報告したいと
思います。
Also, regarding Shizuo Aijima, who was found to have cancer while in detention and passed away before the charges were dropped, “First of all, I want to properly report these results to Mr. Aijima.”
警察や
検察は
同じようなことがないように
検証していただきたい」と
話していました。
I hope the police and prosecutors will investigate so that something like this doesnt happen again, he said.
警視庁「判決内容を精査し対応を検討」
2審の判決について、警視庁は「判決内容を精査した上で、今後の対応を検討してまいります」とコメントしています。
The Metropolitan Police Department commented on the ruling of the second trial, stating, We will carefully examine the details of the verdict and consider our future response.
事件の経緯
2020年3月、横浜市の化学機械メーカー「大川原化工機」の大川原正明社長、海外営業担当の取締役だった島田順司さん、それに顧問だった相嶋静夫さんの3人が警視庁公安部に逮捕されました。
Chronology of the Incident: In March 2020, Masaaki Okawara, president of the Yokohama-based chemical machinery manufacturer Okawara Kakoki, Junji Shimada, then director in charge of overseas sales, and Shizuo Aijima, who was an advisor, were arrested by the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
会社の主力商品だった「噴霧乾燥機」を、国の許可を受けずに中国に不正に輸出したという容疑でした。
The suspicion was that the company’s main product, the “spray dryer,” had been illegally exported to China without government approval.
この機械は熱風で液体を急速に乾燥させて粉状に加工するもので、医薬品やインスタントコーヒー、粉ミルクなどの製造に使われます。
This machine rapidly dries liquids with hot air and turns them into powder; it is used in the production of pharmaceuticals, instant coffee, powdered milk, and similar products.
警視庁公安部は、生物兵器の製造など軍事目的に転用されるおそれがあるとして、輸出規制の対象にあたるとしました。
The Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department determined that it falls under export regulations, as there is a risk it could be diverted for military purposes, such as the production of biological weapons.
3人は「生物兵器を作ることはできず、規制の対象にあたらない」と主張しましたが、その結果、大川原社長と島田さんは「口裏合わせをする疑いがある」などとして1年近く勾留され、会社の顧問だった相嶋さんは勾留中にがんが見つかっても保釈が認められず、無実が証明される前に亡くなりました。
The three insisted that they could not produce biological weapons and were not subject to regulation, but as a result, President Okawara and Mr. Shimada were detained for nearly a year on suspicion of colluding to coordinate their stories, and Mr. Aijima, who was the companys advisor, was not granted bail even after cancer was discovered during his detention, and he passed away before his innocence could be proven.
起訴された後の再捜査で機械が規制の対象に当たらない可能性が浮上し、検察は初公判を4日後に控えた2021年7月、一転して起訴を取り消すという異例の対応を取りました。
After a reinvestigation following the indictment, it emerged that the machine might not be subject to regulation, and in an unusual move, the prosecution decided to withdraw the indictment in July 2021, just four days before the first trial.
起訴の取り消しを受けて東京地方裁判所は「仮に起訴された内容で審理が続いても無罪だった」と判断し、大川原社長などに刑事補償としてあわせて1100万円余りの支払いを決定しました。
Upon the withdrawal of the indictment, the Tokyo District Court determined that even if the trial had continued based on the charges, the defendants would have been found not guilty, and decided to pay a total of over 11 million yen in criminal compensation to President Okawara and others.
裁判の経緯
【『不当な捜査』と提訴】
大川原社長と島田さん、それに相嶋さんの遺族は、2021年9月、「不当な捜査で逮捕・起訴された」として、国と都に賠償を求める裁判を起こしました。
The Course of the Trial [Filed Lawsuit for Unjust Investigation] President Okawara, Mr. Shimada, and the family of Mr. Aijima filed a lawsuit in September 2021 against the national and metropolitan governments, seeking compensation on the grounds that they were arrested and prosecuted due to an unjust investigation.
1審では、警視庁公安部で捜査に携わった現職の警察官が証人として出廷し、事件について「まあ、ねつ造ですね」と証言した上で、「輸出自体は問題なく立件しなければならないような卑劣な客観的事実があったわけではなかった。
In the first trial, a current police officer who was involved in the investigation at the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police appeared as a witness and testified about the case, saying, Well, it was fabricated. He also stated, There was no vile, objective fact about the export itself that would have required us to file criminal charges.
捜査幹部の
個人的な
欲から
立件して
いくことになったのではないか」と
述べました。
It may have been prosecuted due to the personal desires of the senior investigators, he said.
【1審 国と都に賠償命じる】
東京地方裁判所は2023年12月、「検察と警視庁の捜査は違法だった」として、国と都にあわせて1億6200万円余りの賠償を命じる判決を言い渡しました。
[First Trial: Compensation Ordered to the State and Tokyo Metropolitan Government] In December 2023, the Tokyo District Court ruled that the investigation by the prosecution and the Metropolitan Police Department was illegal, and ordered the state and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to pay a total of over 162 million yen in compensation.
判決では、警視庁公安部が機械を輸出規制の対象と判断し、逮捕に踏み切ったことなどについて、「根拠に欠けていた」と指摘したほか、違法な取り調べがあったことも認定しました。
In the ruling, it was pointed out that the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department lacked sufficient grounds when it determined that the machine was subject to export regulations and proceeded with the arrest, and it also recognized that there were illegal interrogations.
また、検察についても「必要な捜査を尽くすことなく起訴した」として、違法な起訴だったと判断しました。
Additionally, regarding the prosecution, it was determined that the indictment was illegal, as it was filed without conducting the necessary investigation.
一方、「ねつ造」と話した警察官の証言には触れず、国と都、メーカーのそれぞれが控訴しました。
On the other hand, they did not mention the testimony of the police officer who said fabrication, and the government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the manufacturer each filed an appeal.
【争点1 輸出規制に関する省令の解釈】2審の争点のひとつは、警視庁公安部による輸出規制に関する省令の解釈が合理的だったかどうかです。
[Issue 1: Interpretation of Ministerial Ordinance Regarding Export Regulations] One of the points of contention in the second trial is whether the interpretation of the ministerial ordinance regarding export regulations by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Bureau was reasonable.
経済産業省の省令では、噴霧乾燥機の内部を「滅菌」または「殺菌」できる能力があるものを輸出規制の対象としています。
According to the ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, spray dryers that have the capability to sterilize or disinfect their interiors are subject to export regulations.
警視庁公安部は、熱による殺菌も含まれ、省令で挙げた細菌のうち、1種類でも死滅させればよいと解釈し、捜査を進めました。
The Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department interpreted that sterilization by heat was also acceptable, and that it was sufficient to kill even just one of the types of bacteria listed in the ministerial ordinance, and proceeded with the investigation.
2審でメーカー側は、警視庁公安部と経済産業省との打ち合わせ内容が記された捜査メモなどを新たな証拠として提出しました。
In the second trial, the manufacturer submitted new evidence, such as investigation notes detailing meetings between the Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Bureau and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
捜査メモには、経済産業省が当初、輸出規制の対象には当たらないという見解を示していたことや、打ち合わせを重ねると、警視庁公安部長の働きかけがあり、会社の捜索を容認するように方針転換されたことが示唆されています。
The investigation notes suggest that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry initially expressed the view that the export restrictions did not apply, but after several meetings, the policy was changed to allow a search of the company following intervention by the director of the Public Security Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department.
これについて、打ち合わせに参加した現職の警察官が証人として出廷し、警視庁上層部が経済産業省に働きかけたと述べた上で、当時の捜査について「問題があった。
Regarding this matter, a current police officer who participated in the meeting took the stand as a witness and stated that the upper management of the Metropolitan Police Department had lobbied the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. He also said that there were problems with the investigation at the time.
決定権を
持っている
人の
欲で
立件したと
思う」と
証言しました。
I think the case was filed because of the desires of the person who has the authority to make decisions, he testified.
こうした
証拠や
証言から
メーカー側は、「
警視庁は
経済産業省をだまして
解釈を
ねじ曲げさせ、
会社の
捜索、
差し押さえを
容認する
方針に
転換させた」と
主張しています。
Based on this evidence and testimony, the manufacturer claims that the Metropolitan Police Department deceived the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, distorted the interpretation, and changed the policy to allow the search and seizure of the company.
一方、都側は「公安部長が働きかけたり、経済産業省側が姿勢を一変させたりしたことはない。
On the other hand, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government stated, The head of the Public Security Department did not intervene, nor did the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry suddenly change its stance.
経済産業省の
公式見解は
一貫している」と
主張しています。
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industrys official stance has been consistent, they assert.
【争点2 温度測定実験の結果】争点の2つ目は、噴霧乾燥機の殺菌能力を調べるため、温度がどこまで上がるか警視庁が実験した結果についてです。
[Issue 2: Results of the Temperature Measurement Experiment] The second issue concerns the results of an experiment conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department to determine how high the temperature would rise in order to investigate the sterilization capability of the spray dryer.
2審でメーカー側は、警視庁が強制捜査の前から温度が上がらない場所があることを認識していたことを示す当時の実験結果のメモを新たな証拠として提出し、「捜査に不利に動く実験結果を握りつぶした」と主張しています。
In the second trial, the manufacturer submitted a memo of experimental results from that time as new evidence, indicating that the police had been aware of areas where the temperature did not rise even before the forced investigation. They claim that the authorities suppressed experimental results that were unfavorable to the investigation.
一方、
都は、「
不利な
証拠を
無視した
事実はなく、
温度測定の
実験は
適切に
行われた」と
主張しています。
On the other hand, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government asserts that there are no facts of having ignored unfavorable evidence, and the temperature measurement experiments were conducted appropriately.
また国は、「
通常要求される
捜査は
行っていて、
当時の
証拠から
起訴した
判断は
合理的だった」と
主張しています。
The government also claims, The usual investigations were conducted, and based on the evidence at the time, the decision to prosecute was reasonable.