Tetsuya Komuro arrives at court on Monday.

Disgraced J-pop producer Komuro convicted of fraud; given suspended sentence

Monday 11th May, 02:26 PM JST

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ThonTaddeo at 09:16 PM JST - 11th May

Was Komuro arrested and sbujected to 23 days of torture at some point before the police decided to charge him?

If so, and given that he made restitution for his crime to the victim, I can agree with the suspended sentense. If he's never spent a day in detention or jail, I might not.
franz75 at 09:44 PM JST - 11th May

PaulieWalnuts: how can you compare the death of millions caused by an ideology and a fraud?

The story of guy that you never heard about. He was running an izakaya. Not producer, not a star, not a politician.

He failed to declare a part of his revenues for for a couple of decades. In his izakaya there is no cash register. All you get is a piece of paper with the price handwritten on it.

Unfortunately for him he got a fiscal control. After investigation, they found he didn't declare a couple of 10 millions of yen.

Did he in prison? No... Did he get a suspended sentence? No... Did he even get to a court? No...

He had to pay what was missing + penalities. In my demonstration, simple people escape prison too.

Horie was a fraud in a another category. You cannot compare.

If you go in prison for smaller fraud, be sure it will flooded by English teachers failing to declare the revenues from their private lessons.

"As the reason for giving a suspended sentence, the judge referred to the fact that Komuro has hope for rehabilitation because there are people who support him, such as Masato Matsuura,"
onedragon at 10:33 PM JST - 11th May

You all miss the point.It's called the entertainment business....
knews at 11:17 PM JST - 11th May

Maybe he got a light sentence for agreeing to write a song for the judge!
medievaltimes at 11:41 PM JST - 11th May

some actual justice would be nice, not the J-style form of it. The only thing that kept this guy out of jail was the fact that a rich friend paid off his debt. Komuro himself made no restitution. If he had not had this rich friend, would he then have gone to jail? Huh? How is that justice? Justice is supposed to be blind, not based on whether a guy has rich friends who bail him out of his problems. And, how in the world does the judge's statement that Komuro carries the hopes of the J-music business with him have anything at all to do with the law?

Excellent post.
PaulieWalnuts at 12:14 AM JST - 12th May

> Horie was a fraud in a another category. You cannot compare.

nonsense

Moderator: Horie is not relevant to this discussion.
smithinjapan at 12:42 AM JST - 12th May

nigelboy: "For one, it solves the jail overcrowding issue which in turn saves tax payers' money."

So let Joe-Tanaka the tax fraud go and jail Komuro instead, if it's simple numbers you're talking about. It's pretty clear that who gets the suspended sentences in Japan and who actually goes to jail isn't based on 'saving taxpayers money' and is in fact quite selective. It's all about greasing the wheels and being corrupt with the best of them.

"In line with the first, the chances of repeat offenders when a convict is incacerated versus that of suspended sentence are night and day."

What?? This guy could very well be doing the same thing tomorrow because he's been 'forgiven' by the law. He COULDN'T if he were in jail -- that's a huge difference alright. And you still haven't explained why it's guys like Komuro and Japanese politicians who always get off. All you did was talk about why SOME receive a suspended sentence and others don't. So, again (and since you quoted it but couldn't answer: "Perhaps nigelboy can come on here and defend the system and explain why all celebrities and the rich get off in Japan without ever doing any time for their crimes."

Good luck answering this time.
franz75 at 12:52 AM JST - 12th May

PaulieWalnuts: "nonsense" why?
nigelboy at 01:02 AM JST - 12th May

So let Joe-Tanaka the tax fraud go and jail Komuro instead, if it's simple numbers you're talking about. It's pretty clear that who gets the suspended sentences in Japan and who actually goes to jail isn't based on 'saving taxpayers money' and is in fact quite selective. It's all about greasing the wheels and being corrupt with the best of them.

Obviously, the sentencing depends on the severity of the crime but the court also takes into consideration defendants' plea as well as how he/she responds to the guilty verdict (how defendants shows remorse for his actions, etc.) This is why Horie, even though he is a celebrity, is not given a suspended sentence.

I believe nearly 60% of the offenses under the criminal code receive suspended sentences so unless those 60% of them are "all celebrities and the rich" your argument doesn't stand.
BurakuminDes at 01:11 AM JST - 12th May

All J-Pop is a Fraud on music.
smithinjapan at 01:18 AM JST - 12th May

"I believe nearly 60% of the offenses under the criminal code receive suspended sentences so unless those 60% of them are "all celebrities and the rich" your argument doesn't stand."

Thank you for the decent post. I will say that I forgot to add 'politicians and city hall workers' to the mix, so that should boost the percentage somewhat. In either case, you giving us the stats on the 60% of offenses under the criminal code get suspended sentences only proves what a joke prosecution in this country is. As well, you're stats on those who serve full sentences becoming repeat offenders in no way talks about what they've done. Do you think a criminal like Komuro is more apt to commit fraud again if he does a stint in the 'klink'? I can see serial rapists or something more apt to be repeat criminal offenders. As such that makes the stats even LESS comparable than comparing this situation and Horie (which I haven't, but many have).

I did say earlier that I'm glad this guy paid off his dues (or had it done for him), but the guy should get at least SOME time in prison, like a year.
nigelboy at 03:53 AM JST - 12th May

smith. I'm only playing devil's advocate here. Personally, I'd like to see all criminals serve their time even if it means increasing jail cells using my tax money.

I will say that I forgot to add 'politicians and city hall workers' to the mix, so that should boost the percentage somewhat.

smith. This is where you can be diplomatic and cut this BS. You're basing your judgement based on some articles which just happen to have a politician get suspended setences not knowing that there are politicians who have served time for their misconduct.(Kanju Sato, Toshio Yamaguchi, Takanori Sakai)

In either case, you giving us the stats on the 60% of offenses under the criminal code get suspended sentences only proves what a joke prosecution in this country is.

Which is supported with the fact that only 13% of so become repeat offenders while if incarcerated, the % skyrockets. I'm wondering what your take on that.

As well, you're stats on those who serve full sentences becoming repeat offenders in no way talks about what they've done

You asked me to defend the Japanese "system" so I did. I really don't care if you (personally) feel what he deserves.

As such that makes the stats even LESS comparable than comparing this situation and Horie (which I haven't, but many have).

Well. If I were to interpret the stats, those who weren't remorseful for their acts don't get suspended sentences so when they're back on the street, they commit crimes again. (This is just one way of looking at it, of course)
franz75 at 01:46 PM JST - 12th May

PaulieWalnuts: OK fine then :-)
smithinjapan at 06:58 PM JST - 13th May

nigelboy: "You asked me to defend the Japanese "system" so I did."

Well, you didn't really -- or at least you didn't give any solid, lawful reasons as opposed to what you feel the defense was.

"I really don't care if you (personally) feel what he deserves."

I don't feel what he deserves, or I would be 'feeling' the inside of a prison cell. I do feel he deserves to be imprisoned, though. Whether you care or not is beside the point, since I'm free to express my opinion.

I do appreciate the more down-to-earth posts, though.
nigelboy at 05:11 AM JST - 14th May

Well, you didn't really -- or at least you didn't give any solid, lawful reasons as opposed to what you feel the defense was.

I have no idea what this means. "lawful" reasons.

Lawful-Being within the law; allowed by law.

So the judges decision is within the law. Hence, his decision is already "lawful" as it is.

I don't feel what he deserves, or I would be 'feeling' the inside of a prison cell. I do feel he deserves to be imprisoned, though. Whether you care or not is beside the point, since I'm free to express my opinion.

You know what they say. Opinions are like ***holes. Everybody's got one. I'm sure if you asked 1000 different people what they think Komuro deserves, I'm sure you'll get close to 900 different answers. But just because the judges decision differs from those 900 different answers (opinions) including yours, doesn't necessarily mean the system is flawed.

Like I said before, I'm the type of person that believes all criminals should be punished to the full extent of the law with no exceptions. However, the stats prove that incarceration is not the solution to preventing repeat offenders so I reserve my judgment whether or not the "system" sucks for it appears that although the Japanese system does a pi$$ poor job of punishing, it does a pretty damn good job of rehabilitating the ex-criminals (i.e. preventing repeat criminals).