Filipino man gets 5 years in jury trial that involved interpreters

Friday 11th September, 04:00 PM JST

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Badge213 at 09:54 PM JST - 11th September

I don't see how this is too harsh, compared to other countries.

Moderator: Comparisons to other countries are not relevant to this discussion.
Cicada at 10:07 PM JST - 11th September

Foxie:

This punishment is way too harsh. I also would like more info on those injuries caused....he must have crippled someone to get such a sentence.

Ask yourself why such pertinent information is not included in the story.
sharky1 at 11:19 PM JST - 11th September

Obviously the jury system is a Japanese Only system and not a jury of your peers. If it were a peer jury system, then they would have had to use foreigners or at least Philippinos on the jury.
TokyoLurker at 11:55 PM JST - 11th September

Obviously, it was a biased system to begin with. Anyone of you remember the raping spree of a Waseda students club? They are only sentenced 2 years in prison, and this is 5 years, considering some amount which can be payed by 5 or ten times amount and some prison like a year or two, while if someone is raped, the trauma would be there as long as they live...

Well, I believe in Karma though.
gogogo at 12:56 AM JST - 12th September

5 years for robbery but 15 for murder, it seems totally weird.
ultradodgy at 02:15 AM JST - 12th September

5 years?? That sounds totally insane. I assume this is a first offense? Was there any long-term damage done to the victims at all??
Fadamor at 03:05 AM JST - 12th September

The victim's privacy over-rides your (and the rest of the general public's) "needing to know" the extent of their injuries. The article reported the sentence by a jury who DID need to know their injuries and WAS informed of their injuries. They assessed punishment accordingly. For you to second-guess them when you weren't involved in the trial at all smacks of extreme arrogance. (You'll note I didn't aim this at any one individual because so many criticized the jury's sentence)

Folks, just because the opportunity is there to comment on an article doesn't mean the article is automatically flawed or reveals some horrendous injustice.
kokuryu at 03:17 AM JST - 12th September

It looks like the victims asked for this huge sentence in order to rehabilitate him - and the guy being sentenced agreed that he should get a huge sentence as well. Taking that into account, they reduced his sentence by a year and only gave him 5 years.
Molenir at 04:44 AM JST - 12th September

2 years for rape, 5 years for robbery. Yep, that sounds about like Japan.
Klein2 at 05:05 AM JST - 12th September

Um. Maybe it is obvious to everyone. But the interpreter and the jury have nothing to do with the sentencing, right?

Maybe there are other considerations. I would think that a harsh sentence would be a great way of telling the Phil. government that they can have this guy back if they want him. If they don't want him, then he will be an example to other bad actors who want to come over for the party.
Klein2 at 05:07 AM JST - 12th September

Personally, I would like to know what the interpreters did. Was the guy actually put on the stand? That would be a supremely dumb thing for defense to do. Was the interpreter used for pre-sentencing comments?
Molenir at 06:40 AM JST - 12th September

Um. Maybe it is obvious to everyone. But the interpreter and the jury have nothing to do with the sentencing, right?

Did I miss something? I thought the jury was the one that decided the sentence. They're supposed to consult with the judges and prosecutors, and then issue a sentence. Am I wrong?
shwettybawls at 07:14 PM JST - 13th September

Sucks to be him! bet if he was japanese he would have only had to apologize and pay some gomen nasai money.
Cicada at 09:57 PM JST - 14th September

Fadamor:

The victim's privacy over-rides your (and the rest of the general public's) "needing to know" the extent of their injuries.

How is privacy an issue? The victims' names are not even mentioned.

...was sentenced Friday to five years in prison at the Saitama District Court for two counts of robbery resulting in injury... The defendant was charged with assaulting two people with two other accomplices on streets in Saitama Prefecture last December.
elbudamexicano at 06:41 PM JST - 17th September

5 years! Yes, this is an outrage! I would rather be in the Philipines enjoying the sun and fun than this Japanese prison!