Japan: Police apologise at grave of wrongfully accused businessman

The charges stemmed from Ohkawara Kakohki’s export of spray dryers, a machine that can turn liquids into powder, and which can be used in the military.

The company said their business was not covered by export restrictions. Prosecutors withdrew the indictments in July 2021 citing “doubts” on the guilt of the accused.

“We sincerely apologise for the serious human rights violation caused by illegally requesting his detention and filing a prosecution, and for depriving Aishima of opportunities for medical treatment by inappropriately rejecting his bail request,” said prosecutor Hiroshi Ichikawa.

Aishima filed eight bail requests, all of which were denied.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office did not appeal court ruling that ordered them to pay compensation. The ruling became final last 11 June.

They also investigated the cause of the wrong indictment. However, the families of the wrongfully accused said it failed to determine the real cause of the error and that the recommended punishments were too light.