Takafumi Horie speaks at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan on Thursday.
REUTERS

Horie says legal system unfairly crucifies rich and famous

Friday 03rd April, 06:27 AM JST

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Yelnats at 02:31 PM JST - 3rd April

I believed he was innocent and still do. He was looked down upon by the old established business men who cheat and bribe like crazy to stay within the old boy network.
European1 at 03:34 PM JST - 3rd April

first of all justice system here sucks, giving all power to prosecutors who can do whatever they like. This is why we have 99.9% conviction rates, even higher court overrule a case. Horie-san you were different and didnt follow the rules, but you have forgotten that you were in society which hates rich and famous first of making their own way. Im with you
European1 at 03:37 PM JST - 3rd April

“Many people have accused me of being someone who worships money,” he said. “I’m not at all interested in saving money. I’m only interested in using money to invest in my dreams.”

very good said, but my advice is: do it elsewhere not in Japan, your native country which will come for you again when you get succeed.
lotsnotes at 03:45 PM JST - 3rd April

He deserves credit for one world-first at least; causing the words "Japanese" and "entrepreneur" to appear together in the same sentence.
DXXJP at 04:29 PM JST - 3rd April

Come on he didnt get fat in jail, he actually came out pretty thin. He's been out on bail for how long now.

And I think TBS was the ones that put the screws to him.
cuddles2009 at 05:25 PM JST - 3rd April

Horie OR ishihara who would you trust.

come on team lets vote
BBLeo at 06:24 PM JST - 3rd April

This guy is talking about full of rich and famous 'S**t'. Rich and famous people should be an example to cummunity and be proud for what they are. Who make's them rich? Who is paying for their daily bread? 'PEOPLE/CUSTOMERS,and WORKERS-in simple word 'PUBLIC.' There is one law for all. But mojority of such mentioned people get away with suspended sentences. Perhaps Takafumi Horie was an example to the others. I bet him if a beggars on the streets will ask him for a yen that he will turn his head the other way.
presto345 at 07:02 PM JST - 3rd April

He looks like an arrogant b*stard to me.
ca1ic0cat at 09:12 PM JST - 3rd April

No, the system crushes anybody who goes against it. "The nail that stands up gets pounded down." I thought every Japanese school child learned that one.
usaexpat at 11:16 PM JST - 3rd April

You may not like the guy but he speaks the truth. It's this way in a lot of countries, prosecutors go for the big fish as a career maker.
onewrldoneppl at 11:43 PM JST - 3rd April

maybe if he hadn't inflated the value of his companies stock with bogus PR, then split the shares illegally ... the authorities would've left him alone. pure & simple, he's a criminal. the fact that he can profit from it by writing a book & living freely on the outside makes Charles Manson angry.
buggerlugs at 12:31 AM JST - 4th April

It's not just the rich and famous the crucify, but it's the rich and famous who we hear about because their voice is heard. He's still rich and famous... who protects the weak?
Soochi at 01:41 AM JST - 4th April

"They may eventually go to the public prosecutors office and give them information that will lead to your downfall."

"They" being law-abiding citizens, "information" being evidence of criminal activity and "downfall" being arrest, trial and conviction through the courts. Hardly kangaroo court stuff is it.
Den Den at 01:03 AM JST - 5th April

Unless you are related to an ex-prime minister, don't mess with politics. Everyone knows that.
jonnyboy at 11:41 AM JST - 6th April

the "problem" is that nouveaux riche are only tolerated in japan as long as they don't impinge upon the status quo. then they will get taken down by the old boys, as happened to horiemon.