Briton to be deported despite acquittal over cannabis smuggling

Saturday 31st May, 06:14 AM JST

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borscht at 11:06 AM JST - 31st May

I overstayed my visa once. Immigration wanted to know why I didn't "come to this office last Friday!?" The real answer was: you were closed for a holiday. But I groveled and apologized and said 'sumimasen' and 'gomen nasai' a couple dozen times and they took pity on me.

This guy, however, rjd, Was in Prison so he couldn't just waltz down to the immigration office to extend his visa. You'd think someone in charge of safety Japan would figure this out. But then again, it's the law, throw the bum out. Easier than actually thinking, I would guess.
nimbus at 11:22 AM JST - 31st May

This is quite the catch-22. The guy overstayed his visa because he was detained by the police and could not leave Japan. When he was released, he was deported because he overstayed his visa. I am sure the guy is glad that he can leave and go home.

What if the situation is slightly different? Say the guy was hit by a car and was in the hospital for several months and his visa expired, will the guy be deported because he overstayed his visa due to his hospital stay?
smithinjapan at 12:58 PM JST - 31st May

Ampotan: "Ridiculous? The law's the law. He broke it. Get out!"

Sorry bud, but maybe you need glasses. Not only was he aquitted of the charges against him (meaning he didn't break any laws at all), HE WAS DETAINED when his visa expired... and for ten months! He didn't break the law at all... as usual that's been left to the J-cops.
super delegate at 01:15 PM JST - 31st May

54- yr old Pommie drug mule unceremoniously booted out of the country. That's one less competitor for Eikaiwa jobs in the tightening Tokyo market. You'd think most commenting here would be happy at this news.
0solrac at 01:50 PM JST - 31st May

A paranoid person might think that this is an attempt at keeping/deterring the foreigners from wanting to visit Japan. Especially if these little incidents have been occuring requently. It's intresting how this came out three days after the article about the man finding that Cannabis was actually planted in his luggage by a J-Cop trying to "improve" the dog's ability to detect the stuff.
Bovinus at 02:06 PM JST - 31st May

The same thing happened to a guy I work with. He didn't have enough money to pay his taxi fare once and the taxi driver claimed he was threatened with a knife. The police came and the guy spent 3 weeks (the maximum) in jail despite no evidence at all (there was no, for example, knife). His visa expired during that time and he was forced to leave Japan.
smithinjapan at 02:41 PM JST - 31st May

Bovinus: Interesting story. I would think though that one wouldn't wait until there's a week or so left on a visa to look into getting an extension or new visa (unless they want out, of course).
capone at 03:58 PM JST - 31st May

lucky guy, he gets to leave japan
European1 at 05:51 PM JST - 31st May

LikingJapan, this is what I was thinking. How the hell he could leave Japan within 3months? Maybe he should have applied for visa extension from behind the bars. Stupid!
lipscombe at 06:29 PM JST - 31st May

ampotan, you are either joking or didn't read the story and several previous stories related to the same case. read it and come back later
DXXJP at 07:18 AM JST - 1st June

You dont need a visa while in jail and they won't let you renue or extend it. Being acuited of the charge he should be allowed to continue his stay a free man.
GrouchyGaijin at 08:51 AM JST - 1st June

I've seen this called "Hostage Justice" and I think that about sums it up.
pizzaboy at 11:01 PM JST - 1st June

"I overstayed my visa once. Immigration wanted to know why I didn't "come to this office last Friday!?" The real answer was: you were closed for a holiday"

this is the mindset of a lot of foreigners i have to work with (i'm a foreigner too). This immature way of looking at things, a pathetic excuse for everything.
Crimsonsil at 08:46 AM JST - 2nd June

pizzaboy

I'm not really sure that can be considered a pathetic excuse. I mean, what were they supposed to do in that situation?
bongjamesbong20 at 11:31 PM JST - 4th June

This is the same country where customs authorities recently loaded some hash into an incoming visitor's baggage "in order to test their drug dogs." What the hell is going on in Narita airport, Japan? mad.gif One rarely sees acquittals in airport drug smuggling cases. Are the customs people shaking down folks as they pass through the airport with planted drugs? Are they targetting international dissenters with planted drugs?

But if you think those questions are crazy, consider the following:The appeals trial is expected to be launched without the presence of the man, who is being detained by the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau as he overstayed his legally permitted period in Japan after his arrest. Detained, because he stayed too long because he was arrested..... mad.gif wacko.gif blush.gif and detained before deportation! mad.gif mad.gif mad.gif

They wouldn't want him hanging around, suing the customs bureau for false arrest, would they....? dry.gif