Tochigi prefectural police chief Shoichiro Ishikawa, right, apologizes to Toshikazu Sugaya and his lawyer (bowing at left) on Wednesday.

Man wrongfully convicted of murder gets apology from police chief, job offer in hometown

Wednesday 17th June, 12:27 PM JST

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jonnyboy at 06:45 PM JST - 17th June

herefornow - i wasn't trying to say that people shouldn't receive compensation, but when people hope that they will be injured or hurt in some way in the hope that they can make a killing in some court settlement, solving financial problems that they may well have made for themselves, you know things have gone too far and priorities have got screwed up. also, having a such a huge number of lawyers in a country is not a cause for celebration. let's not forget that the legal profession is one of those that profits from people's misery. indeed, it is in its interest that people suffer as much as possible
hirobito at 06:57 PM JST - 17th June

Toshikazu Sugaya, 62

The mayor offered him a city-run residence and a job as a school bus driver for a city-run elementary school

I wonder what the mandatory retirement age is in Ashikaga?
BBLeo at 07:14 PM JST - 17th June

Mr. Toshikazu Sugaya was very lucky that they didn't hang him. He should get compo for 17 years, receiving 10 000 000.00 smackers cash in hand for each year that he spent behind the bars and the chief of the Tochigi prefectural police should take his place in the same cell with the same bed together with prosecutor and the judge. What is the point of giving him a job after being on holydays for so long? Give him good compensation so that he can spend 17 years in a paradise without cops, prosecutors and judges. ‘ONE FOR MALL ALL FOR ONE.’ (Global home remedy)
proxy at 08:05 PM JST - 17th June

A man was convicted of killing two girls in Fukuoka a few years ago and executed last year or two years ago. He always swore he was innocent and now his old lawyer is going to court to have DNA tests done. If the tests come back and rule him out, too bad for him because the government already killed him.
sakurasuki at 09:04 PM JST - 17th June

A man was convicted of killing two girls in Fukuoka a few years ago and executed last year or two years ago. He always swore he was innocent and now his old lawyer is going to court to have DNA tests done.

I am really eager to see the update in the News.
whynothow at 10:15 PM JST - 17th June

The mayor offered him a city-run residence and a job as a school bus driver for a city-run elementary school

17years in the joint and this is what he gets? a deadbeat job? That guy shouldn't have to work ever again....
ca1ic0cat at 01:13 AM JST - 18th June

You're right, the payout should make sure that he doesn't work again. But I wouldn't want to sit at home doing nothing either. I think the job offer was more a part of the apology than anything. But that bow just isn't deep enough, IMHO. That said, Sugaya-san was satisfied. I hope he enjoys the rest of his life.
supermario at 01:25 AM JST - 18th June

This guy should not have to work ever again and should be able to enjoy what ever he has left of his life since a big chunk has been taken away from him. They should supply him with a Luxury Apartment and with a nice big fat compensation which is still not enough for what this poor guy went through..
fatfrenchfool at 01:46 AM JST - 18th June

takes a man to apologise and a man to accept one after such an experience. my hat is doffed to both
bdiego at 07:23 AM JST - 18th June

Sadly, only one man had the balls to apologize and he had to do it on behalf of others. That's the least he can do, and if you can't appreciate that I feel sorry for you.
daisan at 07:58 AM JST - 18th June

Wasn't this guy forced to sign a confession? Are they going to do something about it? I guess they know who was in charge at that time or since it seems to be such a common practice there's nothing they can really do about it, right?
Tahoochi at 10:05 AM JST - 18th June

Nessie:

You're also expect to make a convincing show of remorse, and the prosecutor hasn't even done that. So much for the Japanese way.

All I am saying is that there has got to be a balance somewhere in the middle where people do not become too obsessed with "how much money are you going to pay me?/how much do you want?", and at the same time people are awarded what they deserve and wrong doings are not swept under the rug after just an apology. You're comment "so much for the Japanese way" really puzzles me because I am not saying "the Japanese way" is the right way, nor am I saying "the Western way" is right way either. I am saying "let's not forget to include all angles and perspectives". As far as the prosecutor is concerned, yeah, he's a scumbag if doesn't apologize.
fatfrenchfool at 11:37 AM JST - 18th June

That's the least he can do, and if you can't appreciate that I feel sorry for you.

no need to feel sorry for me, but thanks anyway.
saborichan at 01:08 PM JST - 18th June

More worrying is the fact that the job he was offered is driving a children's school bus.

This guy hasn't driven in 17 years - has he still got the chops? Also, regardless of his apparent innocence, there will still be parents exchanging alarmed looks and saying it's not right to have someone jailed on child murder driving their little darlings home.
arenson at 12:39 PM JST - 21st June

Looking beyond the immediate issue of the wrongful conviction and apology, it is an outrage that a man presumably forced to confess by overzealous officials merited only an indirect apology initially. Moreover, police and prosecutors are on record as opposing taped confessions, and one wonders whether they fear that their alleged use of forced confessions might thus result in their own indictment. In other news we learn that four staffers at a Hiroshima Prefectural youth reformatory have been arrested for a series of assaults, indicating how widespread violence and criminality by those entrusted to enforce the law are. Last, a pamphlet now being distributed on the Oedo and other subways lines suggests why official violence in Japan has long been under-reported and tolerated and should raise alarm bells. It lists Tokyo's very own governor Ishihara, along with the Totsuka Yacht School, as participant-sponsors of a symposium, "Corporal Punishment is Education" at Hollywood Univerity on June 26. The headmaster of the yacht school was himself sentenced to prison in 1997 for his role in the deaths of several children who drowned while escaping corporal punishment.