Acquitted Nepalese demands compensation for 15 years in jail

Crime Dec. 30, 2012 - 02:55PM JST ( 36 )

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36 Comments

12

T_rexmaxytimeDec. 30, 2012 - 03:20PM JST

He will probably get his money! Good for him!
10

YubaruDec. 30, 2012 - 03:35PM JST

Here's to hoping that the government pays this money to him in a timely manner. It is quite common for lawsuits like this to take years before any decision is made for or against.

Pay the man, he deserves it and more.
6

zichiDec. 30, 2012 - 04:05PM JST

I hope he only has to wait years and not decades for the payout?
-5

some14someDec. 30, 2012 - 04:09PM JST

and if they calculate @ M/M rate he may not get more than US$60,000 (still lower if yen weakens further).
8

JanesBlondeDec. 30, 2012 - 04:16PM JST

Not only is it terrible that this man spend 15 years of his life in prison for a crime he did not commit but his family had to suffer the humiliation of it as well.

NOT TO MENTION - the real murder is still out there!
10

MariaDec. 30, 2012 - 05:06PM JST

They should hand over the money without a whimper. Racism really did out in this man's case. The Japanese legal system stole a third of his life.
9

OnniyamaDec. 30, 2012 - 05:16PM JST

That is not even close to enough money. Think of the hell this guy went through. Lost the best years of his life. Wish him well.
6

Frank VaughnDec. 30, 2012 - 05:34PM JST

How do you put a price on what was STOLEN from him? He deserves at least $1,000,000 per year (yes U.S. Dollars). How very lucky he was not executed, this is one of those cases that show why the death penalty is wrong.
3

avigatorDec. 30, 2012 - 05:37PM JST

Govinda, if you are reading this, please write a book about your ordeal. And if possible, work with film companies in Hollywood and Bollywood, (India), to make a movie about it. That is all I can think of to make you life whole.
9

wanderlustDec. 30, 2012 - 05:52PM JST

He'll probably get a couple of million yen if he is lucky. They'll make a bunch of deductions for various items such as overstaying his visa (in jail!), and cost of accommodating him for 15 years. Japanese who have been wrongfully imprisoned and managed to obtain 'justice' have been paid a pittance. The authorities here are not known for any compassion...
-7

some14someDec. 30, 2012 - 05:57PM JST

@ wanderlust : agreed but you will also get thumbs down for your honest opinion.
6

smithinjapanDec. 30, 2012 - 06:02PM JST

He'll get a cold, wishy-washy apology and likely be paid off pretty quick in order for Japan to get out of the lime-light on this one. Then when he tries for further compensation, they'll claim they've already apologized and paid money, so there is no longer any problems. When asked to address what happened after and seek to change the system, bureaucrats and politicians will claim it never happened and rewrite the books. We've seen it before, we'll see it again.

Good on this man for doing what he's doing.
5

Ah_soDec. 30, 2012 - 06:02PM JST

Why is the lower rate so low? Why is there discretion involved? A thousand yen for a day's wrongful imprisonment is unbelievable. Even the upper rate is pretty low - it is only equal to JPY 4.6m p/a - not even a high wage in Japan.

In many cases, this would not make up for lost salary, let alone lost liberty. 15 years of one's life is an incredible amount. This guy must have been 31 went he went in, with most of his adult life ahead of him, and comes out at the age of 46. He has probably now missed out on many of the major things that have happened to him in that time - starting a family and building a career.

Japan has wrecked his life and in compensation he gets barely enough to buy a Tokyo apartment.

$15,000,000 compensation as Frank Vaughn suggests may be on the high side (I think that after a certain point the money makes no difference), but $3m to $5m sounds more like it.
4

smithinjapanDec. 30, 2012 - 06:04PM JST

Frank: "How very lucky he was not executed, this is one of those cases that show why the death penalty is wrong."

While I share your belief that the death penalty is wrong, I don't believe it was ever an issue here and shouldn't be now. What IS an issue is how the justice system here in general is wrong, along with the 99% conviction rate -- well known to be as such through forced confessions while the J-cops bumble about and screw up key evidence (if they find it in the first place). The man is lucky he didn't die in prison, for sure.
-16

southsakaiDec. 30, 2012 - 06:15PM JST

I know this comment won't side with most here, but he sure paid a nice heavy price for cheating on his wife who was back home in Nepal. And him changing statements with the Police several times, that did not help him in any way at all.

Everyone knows if you keep changing your statements, you will be perceived as ?

15 years is a long time to loose especially at his young age back then. But this fool is no godly saint eighter for being a cheat on his family and a liar to the cops. He had this coming.
5

CrazedinjapanDec. 30, 2012 - 06:45PM JST

Smith is right, quick apology and a signed agreement when paid off (settlement) not to sue again.

His best bet after getting his sum is sell his story to a movie maker. It's about time Japan system of 99% conviction rates is faulty on many levels.
2

kimuzukashiiiiiDec. 30, 2012 - 06:58PM JST

I hope he gets his money.
5

smithinjapanDec. 30, 2012 - 07:00PM JST

southsakai: "15 years is a long time to loose especially at his young age back then. But this fool is no godly saint eighter for being a cheat on his family and a liar to the cops. He had this coming."

What, was he firing arrows? It's not 'loose' it's 'lose', and in no way is 15 years in prison what he had coming for what so many people do on a daily basis here. And you're not acknowledging the fact that the police took convenience over doing their job -- and the evidence in this case was quite obvious. They could have, and obviously should have, tested the DNA evidence inside her and under her fingernails, but nah. Meanwhile the real murderer walks free while people like yourself say someone guilty of mere adultery and perhaps other lies deserved to take his place.
7

AylerDec. 30, 2012 - 10:59PM JST

He had this coming.

1 day left but I think I can safely say this is worst 'comment' of the year.
4

WilliBDec. 30, 2012 - 11:56PM JST

Considering how the prosecutors mishandled the case, I think his claim is justified. I just wish that the prosecutors had to pay it themselves, and not we taxpayers.
-17

HornyEwokDec. 31, 2012 - 01:39AM JST

Compensation are you guys kidding??? He should pay for his 15 years of incarnation, that came from our taxes.

He was in Japan illegally. If he would not have violated Japanese immigration law, he would never have been falsely accused and convicted. The police would have had to look further and might have found the real killer, who since than may have killed others... In way you can look at it, as him having committed obstruction of justice. Food for thought.
1

Pukey2Dec. 31, 2012 - 05:02AM JST

Looking at the case, the guy is guilty.

And this has got to be the second worst comment of the year (with Ewok's comment coming a close third). So, how were you involved with the case? Were you there at the interrogations and trial? I'd love to know.
-8

nigelboyDec. 31, 2012 - 05:51AM JST

And this has got to be the second worst comment of the year (with Ewok's comment coming a close third). So, how were you involved with the case? Were you there at the interrogations and trial? I'd love to know.

Don't know why you have to be directly involved in the case to form your own opinion on the case.
4

Jaybee MoriyamaDec. 31, 2012 - 10:50AM JST

he should get a million a year!
4

Mirai HayashiDec. 31, 2012 - 12:14PM JST

$790,000

That's it? I would demand $1M for every year I was falsely imprisoned.
1

JanesBlondeDec. 31, 2012 - 08:04PM JST

southsakaiDEC. 30, 2012 - 06:15PM JST

Wow - if every man had to serve 15 years jail for cheating on their wives, 35% of the worlds husbands would be in jail. (What a pathetic argument)

HornyEwokDEC. 31, 2012 - 01:39AM JST

I forgot - Japanese NEVER over stay their visas in the USA, CAN, NZ or AUS.

There is NO DOUBT many over people in Japanese prisons for crimes that they did not commit, but somehow they "confessed to" in writing.
1

Raju PaudelDec. 31, 2012 - 10:55PM JST

Only money it's not enough ..!!
-1

LowlyJan. 01, 2013 - 01:34AM JST

I hope he gets his money,

but also that those responsible at police and prosecutor get the axe.
-6

nigelboyJan. 01, 2013 - 01:49AM JST

Prosecutors just did a poor job of focusing too much effort on DNA evidence when they should just focus on who had the access to the crime scene and breaking down his alibi. What the defense did was simply create more "reasonable doubt" which they did a masterful job.
0

JoeBigsJan. 01, 2013 - 07:16AM JST

Pay him what he would have been able to earn and then compensate him a bit more.

I guess he will get $500,000.
0

DudeDeuceJan. 01, 2013 - 11:30AM JST

No money can ever take the place of the 15 years, the police officers heads on a platter plus using it to play soccer may help a bit.
1

WeaselJan. 01, 2013 - 12:46PM JST

The prosecutors who wrongly convicted him ought to pay the compensation out of their pockets. Doubt any sum of money will make right for spending nearly 15 years in the can for something you didn't do.
-1

keika1628Jan. 02, 2013 - 01:29AM JST

HornyEwokDec. 31, 2012 - 01:39AM JST

Compensation are you guys kidding??? He should pay for his 15 years of incarnation, that came from our taxes.

A prisoner has to earn their keep in prison , maybe you don't know about Japans prison industry in the shoe and work clothing plus mobile phone assembly business.
0

IsthiezakJan. 02, 2013 - 09:22AM JST

Compensation are you guys kidding??? He should pay for his 15 years of incarnation, that came from our taxes.

You appear to be missing the important fact that he did not commit the crime...
-2

basroilJan. 03, 2013 - 10:02AM JST

keika1628Jan. 02, 2013 - 01:29AM JST

Compensation are you guys kidding??? He should pay for his 15 years of incarnation, that came from our taxes.

Maybe we should lock you up for no reason and then charge you to stay? The only crime he was found guilty of is overstepping his visa, which is punishable by deportation, NOT imprisonment. The state decided to keep him in the country illegally, and therefore fully responsible for everything, including paying back this poor man's pitiful allowance. Even the maximum amount would entitle him to less than the minimum wage he would normally get working, and that means your incarceration fees have already been included even with the maximum compensation.
0

sfjp330Jan. 03, 2013 - 10:16AM JST

J-goverment should require everyone who was involved with this case from the onset of it, to have to go through their training themselves. From the prosecutor, judge, police, prison officials and all. Not only should they compensate him fairly with a large settlement, they should buy him a home, furnishings, a car and free medical coverage the remainder of his life. Things like this are why people have no faith or confidence in Japanese system of justice. Something is most definetly wrong here and needs to be fixed. Japan has convicted lots and lots of innocent people, where the prosecutor engaged in questionable tactics to obtain convictions. Japan holds the distinction of having had one of the highest rates of successful prosecutions because of exculpatory evidence and prosecutorial misbehavior.