politics

Panel wants TEPCO execs charged over nuke crisis

42 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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42 Comments
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Hurry up and get started, this has been long over due. And what of Shimizu?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

YES!!!!!!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Solves Nothing, Daiichi needs to be taken care of first then finger pointing later

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140730_29.html

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2014/images/handouts_140723_03-e.pdf

First lets solve the problems of freezing Sea Water (Ice Wall Project) Sea Water that is flowing in and out of Explosion Made tunnels underneath Daiichi... And Finally if it is at all possible Contain and Entomb Daiichi.... There is Plenty of Time to point fingers afterwards... JAEA I think need a finger or two pointed in there Direction after Daiichi is taken care of

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

Utrack..

While I agree the ongoing crisis is the most important, there needs to be a change in business practices in Japan as a preventative measure against more negligence..

Bows and sorries don't fix or help anyone, having actual consequences for the kinds of negligence that allowed this disaster to occur is extremely important too.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

It's a step forward but doesn't change the fact that Fukushima Dai-ichi is completely out of control.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Only former executives and no current ones ? that's not close to what justice ought be served.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I think the real culprit here is whoever had the bright idea of privatising nuclear power. Companies everywhere balance the cost of safety precautions against the amount of compensation that might have to be paid if something goes wrong. In TEPCOs case, they knew they were going to be bailed out by the Japanese government if there was ever a meltdown so they didn't take it seriously, creaming off big profits in the prior years. And they where completely right. The former executives all got their pensions and golden parachutes.

I would rather see TEPCO sold off for pennies on the dollar to a big French power company like EDF and have the entire board replaced by foreigners. That would be worse than prison for some of these execs.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

So a "A Japanese judicial panel has recommended that three former executives of the utility that operates the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant face criminal charges over their role in the disaster." And what now?? What do you expect? This will never go further than this. It's Japan for God sake. LDP will never allow than their friends will be charged and face the danger of a negative verdict. There is no independent legal system in this country.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Long overdue!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A Japanese judicial panel has recommended that three former executives of the utility that operates the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant face criminal charges over their role in the disaster.

Hallelujah. Except at least a year too late. In any true judicial system, these guys would have faced criminal charges long ago. But Japan's judicial system is just an apendage of Japan Inc., and charging TEPCO execs. would have undermined the public's belief in the system to look out for their best interest. And we can't have that, can we? Which is why I doubt they will ever be charged. The government and Japan Inc., including TEPCO, are pushing hard to get nukes re-started. The last thing they want is a high-profile trial about criminal negligence.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

And go get others too, like the designer, the chief engineer, the PM at the time of approval of construction and anyone else top level who has been in charge of the place since it was built.

They all share some responsibility for building, operating and running the plant know it was not upto safety standards, and towards the end they even failed to take safety upgrades that were recommended , heads should be rolling over this debacle. Its gross negligence at its worst.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

At last!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

About time too !

They would be the first TECPO executives to face a criminal trial in the Fukushima disaster.

I think they mean TEPCO but in any case it's about time ! As others have said, it's a "good start" but not enough of them are being charged, ALL the executives should be charged and jailed.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is good to see BUT! These three are just gonna be scapegoats for corrupt and mismanaged nuclear industry that extends to the highest level of government.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Panel? Take a vote all of Japan want them in jail

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@zichi, @marcelito

maybe you missed the part about evidence being necessary for indictment.

@jerseyboy,

there is no evidence for your statement regarding Japan INC and the justice system. there is evidence, however, that many Japanese harbor no illusions about who's best interests are, or are not, being upheld, so you're wrong there too.

@M3M3M3

You would rather TEPCO to be foreign owned? Being a quasi-private Japanese firm is bad enough. Just because a French firm may be performing better on French soil means only that French laws are stricter. Being completely accountable only to foreign share-holders would be no less of a nightmare than what we have with it being owned by the Japanese government. it might even have been worse.

this recommendation for indictment is far from meaningless. yes, there are major ongoing troubles at Daiiichi, and yes, it would be nice for everyone at fault to get their just desserts, but sometimes you have to take what you can get. one case at a time. otherwise you just start spouting meaningless hyberbole, like @Zichi.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

I guess all the major investigations, including the Diet, which stated that the nuclear disaster was man made and caused by the lack of safety standards and accepted by TEPCO just isn't enough evidence. The only evidence needed is the nuclear disaster which was caused by profit seeking industrial criminals.

Whether that is criminally liable is a different thing.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Everyone knows what the outcome of a court case will be. In ten or twenty years time, if any of the defendants are still alive, a court will hand down a suspended sentence.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

How about charging officials from Japan's nuclear regulatory body? It was they who created the safety specifications for the plant, including the inadequate sea walls which were supposed to protect the plant. They were also supposed to be responsible for making sure that Tepco performed safety inspections and equipment checks, which appear not to have been performed properly.

Japan has some absurd ways of enforcing (or not enforcing) rules and regulations, and this was a large contributing factor to the disaster.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@jerseyboy,

there is no evidence for your statement regarding Japan INC and the justice system. there is evidence, however, that many Japanese harbor no illusions about who's best interests are, or are not, being upheld, so you're wrong there too

Sourpuss -- horse feathers. The "evidence" you seem unwilling to ackowledge is the nearly countless times that corporate crimes in Japan are simply swept under the rug with a bow and an order to "show improvement" -- like the dozens of false labeling cases. And even when a rare case is prosecuted, the usual penalty is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. But, since you are such an expert, cite even three examples of when corporate crime was aggressively prosecuted in Japan in even the last five years -- of a Japanese company.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Sourpuss -- horse feathers. The "evidence" you seem unwilling to ackowledge is the nearly countless times that corporate crimes in Japan are simply swept under the rug with a bow and an order to "show improvement" -- like the dozens of false labeling cases. And even when a rare case is prosecuted, the usual penalty is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. But, since you are such an expert, cite even three examples of when corporate crime was aggressively prosecuted in Japan in even the last five years -- of a Japanese company.

Define "aggressive"? Can you, for a second, dispense with your own Nihonjinron rhetoric?

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

DO IT!! Convict them!!!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japanese prosecutors only bring to court those cases they are sure they can win.

Yes. I much prefer that over a prosecutor that bring forth a trial based on "50/50" chance. (i.e, not confident with the EVIDENCE but i'll TRY to get a conviction by pursuading the lay judge through emotion)

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

@ Utrack

thnaks for the link...

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140730_29.html

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2014/images/handouts_140723_03-e.pdf

wow I did not know this...I wonder what's the true radiation level in Tokyo is? and while doing a little research I also found this information too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpk_HCoJmH8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDgnBqBJZNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDgnBqBJZNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz1j4IHcsP4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5opriA4j1SA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PrhG5gmVb8

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Sadly, people will be relieved by this news alone, and there will be no follow through.

People should be in the streets with torches and pitchforks in hand over this. They should be gathered in front of the execs and their friends mansions, chanting for justice.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Yes! Finally! Lock em up and melt the keys!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hell hath frozen over?!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Outrageous!!! They have already apologisedd profusely and looked ashamed on television.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

But the Japanese government will not allow this. They are, ya know, part of the good old boys club.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Define "aggressive"? Can you, for a second, dispense with your own Nihonjinron rhetoric?

Nigelboy -- classic response from you. I think if you or Sourpuss wanted to, you could adequtely define "aggressive". And with regards to my "Nihonjinron rhetoric", I simply say "Thank You". Me stating an obvious conclusion about the Japanese judicial system, based on knowledge gained from my ten years in Japan, is perfectly valid. Afterall, that is what Nihonjinron is -- explaining differences in Japanese culture by comparison to other countries. I think you are upset simply because you see my point. In feudal Japan, the justice system was not as critical an element, as the concepts of personal honor and responsibility were paramount. But now, Japan Inc. has run roughshod over those principles, and, has in fact, made a joke of them -- Simply a bow, a canned apology ("Oh, I'm so sorry for causing confusion") and docking themsleves some pay -- is enough to get away with almost any corporate crime. And the judicial system has not responded to this. And TEPCO is a classice example -- the Tokyo prosecutor's office was all set to just sweep it under the rug.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Nigelboy -- classic response from you. I think if you or Sourpuss wanted to, you could adequtely define "aggressive".

I asked you remember? But I'm assuming a "raid" by the prosecuting office from the very beginning. My answer is no way. On what charges? What evidence do you have to support those charges? Raid where? Fukushima Daiichi Plant?

As zichi stated, it's only when the government investigation concluded that there have been negligence (civil). To turn that into criminal negligence or other criminal charges takes more time (reinvestigation).

Bypassing such protocol is simply defined as "witch hunt".

Your statement is rarely valid. Furthermore, I'm not upset for I never see your point. Your mumbo jumbo about "feudal Japan" is so far out in left field that it supports my interpretation of your own Nihonjinron rhetoric.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I asked you remember? But I'm assuming a "raid" by the prosecuting office from the very beginning. My answer is no way. On what charges? What evidence do you have to support those charges? Raid where? Fukushima Daiichi Plant?

nigelboy -- you really are clutching at straws, aren't you? The "evidence" is three N-plants that melted down and at least three government/independent panels that all agreed that TEPCO was negligent. Your understanding of a properly functioning judicial system is laughable. You develop evidence from a real/proper investigation. Then you make charges, not the other way around.

Your mumbo jumbo about "feudal Japan" is so far out in left field that it supports my interpretation of your own Nihonjinron rhetoric.

And, as expected, this is just more semantics. (Are you saying Japan did not have a "feudal system" for many generations?) Why can't you address the fact that Japan Inc, and companies like TEPCO, have totally obliterated the great Japanese tradition of personal responsibility and honor and that the judicial system, or lack thereof, has assisted in this?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

nigelboy -- you really are clutching at straws, aren't you? The "evidence" is three N-plants that melted down and at least three government/independent panels that all agreed that TEPCO was negligent. Your understanding of a properly functioning judicial system is laughable. You develop evidence from a real/proper investigation. Then you make charges, not the other way around.

That's the point I was trying to make. Whether it's negligent "criminally" requires more review, hence the result and the article. This is why I specifically asked what your definition of "aggressively" in regards to the prosecution. You provided none so I assumed.

And, as expected, this is just more semantics. (Are you saying Japan did not have a "feudal system" for many generations?) Why can't you address the fact that Japan Inc, and companies like TEPCO, have totally obliterated the great Japanese tradition of personal responsibility and honor and that the judicial system, or lack thereof, has assisted in this?

Because there is nothing to address for their is no such thing is "Japan Inc." When something negative occurs to some Japanese company (as if this does not happen in your country), your predictable response is to attach it with "Japan, Inc." It's lame.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

So a "A Japanese judicial panel has recommended that three former executives of the utility that operates the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant face criminal charges over their role in the disaster." And what now?? What do you expect? This will never go further than this. It's Japan for God sake. LDP will never allow than their friends will be charged and face the danger of a negative verdict. There is no independent legal system in this country.

Probably just a stage performance of Japanese justice system, knowing very well that this recommendation would do nothing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Death penalty would suffice, then you'd see all the other rats leave the sinking ships. Obviously this would never happen.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The panel had to inspect all records of evidence and did not rush up. They are there to recommend. They are not prosecutors and so they recommended. They are neither prosecutors who handle cases nor judges in a court. I doubt death penalty will suffice. No kangaroo court in Japan. It is just in recommendation stage. Notice Abe has been busy to deal about oil in oil rich Latin American countries and in Japan, Ken Corp began PV Cells solar panel business. Uranium depending Nuclear Energy Power Plant might be recommended to close very soon? Japan Inc has nothing to do with this decision but Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Kyocera and other PV Solar makers of Japan Inc might be glad to see this recommendation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Zichi

Thanks for the information. Those execs who have the おいしい仕事 should be hounded 24/ 7.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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