OSAKA (TR) – A female prosecutor who fell victim to a sex crime by her former boss is demanding a judicial review after defamation charges were dropped against a colleague who outed her identity, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 27).
The victim revealed she will file a petition with the Osaka Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution on April 30, targeting a female deputy prosecutor who allegedly slandered her.
The underlying scandal previously shook the legal establishment, centering on Kentaro Kitagawa, 66, the disgraced former head of the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office. Kitagawa is currently on trial for quasi-forcible sexual intercourse against the woman.
Kentaro Kitagawa (X)
Following the assault, the female deputy prosecutor engaged in inappropriate conduct by revealing the victim’s name to other colleagues.
While she was slapped with a disciplinary reprimand for the breach, the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office quietly dropped criminal defamation charges against her in March of last year.
Unwilling to let the matter go, the victim is now turning to an independent citizens’ panel to force an indictment.
“The investigation leading up to the disposition was insufficient, and the legal assessment is incorrect,” the victimized prosecutor stated.
Meanwhile, the trial of Kitagawa has taken an unexpected turn. Although the former top prosecutor admitted to the allegations during his initial court appearance, his defense team has since announced plans to argue for his innocence in future hearings.
AloJapan.com