[TODAY'S TOP STORIES] from [The Japan Times]
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
Court airs taped grilling of Sugaya
'92 interrogation into slayings led to 'confession'
UTSUNOMIYA, Tochigi Pref. (Kyodo) Audiotapes of a prosecutor questioning Toshikazu Sugaya were played Thursday during his retrial at the Utsunomiya District Court, prompting him to leave the courtroom because he felt sick.
Sugaya, 63, sentenced to life in prison for the 1990 abduction-murder of a 4-year-old girl in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, was released last June after serving 17 years. Fresh evidence to prove his innocence arose from new DNA tests and he is expected to be acquitted following the retrial.
His lawyers say that playing the recordings of the interrogation process will show how Sugaya was forced to make a false confession and how he was victimized by an inappropriate investigation and court trials.
After his arrest in 1991, Sugaya was questioned not only about the 1990 slaying but also about the murder of two other girls in Ashikaga, in 1979 and 1984. With his expected acquittal in the 1990 killing, all three slayings remain unsolved.
On a tape recorded Jan. 28, 1992, the prosecutor questioned Sugaya about the 1984 case, in which a 5-year-old girl was slain, asking him, "Is it really true?" and Sugaya responded, "I took (the girl on my bicycle)," suggesting he was involved in the murder.
But Sugaya eventually denied involvement after the prosecutor said, "Don't glance down. Is it a murder you committed or not?" and he responded, "Actually, I didn't do it."
On the 1990 case for which he was convicted, the prosecutor said, "Were you or weren't you involved in this case as well? I don't want you to be sly," at which Sugaya fell silent. Then the prosecutor asked, "So it's not wrong (to say) that you did it." Sugaya responded that it's not wrong. But when asked again "Did you do it?" Sugaya didn't answer.
The prosecutor also told Sugaya, "We are recording (this interrogation), but you don't have to pay any mind to that."
While the tape was being played, Sugaya left the court, saying he felt sick.
The former prosecutor will testify Friday afternoon.
Sugaya's lawyers have argued it is necessary to disclose the audio recordings to clarify why he made the false confessions. Prosecutors said it isn't necessary because Sugaya will be acquitted anyway.
The move will affect the debate about introducing full video and audio recordings of all interrogations to prevent wrongful convictions.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
Hatoyama reaffirms innocence
By JUN HONGO
Staff writer
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama again proclaimed his innocence Thursday in a political funds scandal involving donations from his mother, telling the House of Representatives Budget Committee that he is ready to resign if the facts prove otherwise.
Prosecutors have revealed that Hatoyama's mother gave some ¥1.26 billion to the prime minister's fund management body from 2002 to 2008, with part of the money apparently disguised as donations from other people, even some deceased.
Two of Hatoyama's former secretaries have been arrested over the case, but Hatoyama has insisted he was not aware of any wrongdoing. When news of the mother's contributions surfaced, they were first deemed "loans," but Hatoyama last month agreed to amend his tax returns and pay more than ¥500 million in gift taxes.
"I swear by the gods of heaven and Earth that I did not know (about the donations). If there are any facts that prove otherwise, I am not eligible to wear the badge" of a Lower House member, Hatoyama said.
The prime minister clashed head-on with Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki in the budget committee meeting. Hatoyama apologized for the recent developments but repeated that the shady money transfers were in no way intended for his personal gain.
But Tanigaki wasted no time in criticizing the transactions, spending 40 minutes of the debate attacking them.
Tanigaki also took a swipe at Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, who has seen three former secretaries arrested earlier this month for an unregistered \350 million land purchase involving funds prosecutors suspect were supplied by general contractors.
The LDP chief also criticized Hatoyama for appearing to encourage Ozawa's defiance of prosecutors.
"It is highly regrettable and very strange" that DPJ executives are involved in such cases, Tanigaki said, demanding that the budget committee hold a special session to discuss the issue.
Hatoyama, repeating that he did not intend to intervene in the investigation of Ozawa's finances, said he was simply backing a colleague who also claims to be innocent.
The ¥7.2 trillion second supplementary budget is expected to be passed by the committee Monday, with New Komeito saying it will support the plan.
Ozawa grilling
Kyodo News
Prosecutors will question Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa on a voluntary basis Saturday in Tokyo, sources said Thursday.
The prosecutors have confirmed the date with the Ozawa side, they said.
The questioning will likely take four hours, during which investigators will ask him about his political fund management body's alleged false political fund reports related to a controversial land purchase, the sources said.
Ozawa is expected repeat his earlier claim that the ¥350 million land deal was entirely funded by his personal assets and not by shady donations from general contractors, the sources said.
Ozawa's personal assets at the time reportedly amounted to ¥600 million, mostly consisting of time deposits and foreign currency-denominated savings made under the names of his wife and three children.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
Desperate wives tap 'secret savings'
Bloomberg
Housewives' "secret savings" fell about 20 percent last year as households were forced to tap these reserves to cover living costs amid falling family income, according to a survey by Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
The value of "hesokuri," the cash, stocks and real estate that housewives stash without telling their husbands, fell to an average of ¥3.7 million from ¥4.6 million a year earlier, according to the company's report on the survey results.
Women traditionally handle family finances in Japan, collecting their husbands' paychecks and handing back pocket-money to cover the cost of lunches, coffee and drinking sessions with colleagues. The portion of winter bonuses returned to husbands as allowances dropped 34 percent to ¥73,000, enough to pay for three or four weekend golf rounds at the Hon Chiba Country Club east of Tokyo.
Consumers, whose spending accounts for more than half of the economy, are paring outlays amid rising unemployment and falling wages. Some 3.3 million people were looking for jobs in November, up 750,000 from a year earlier. Workers' wages slid for an 18th month. Half of those who responded to the survey said they may cut luxury-product purchases, Sompo Japan said.
"From the micro point of view, research on housewives could show us the reality of the nation's economy and provide a glimpse of what lies ahead for business conditions," said Minoru Sugiyama, a spokesman at Sompo Japan.
The research was based on responses from 500 housewives. Their average age was 39.7. Seventy-two respondents said the steps they take to make ends meet include serving more bean sprouts, while 40 said they were cooking more tofu.
About 38 percent of the housewives said lower household incomes forced them to reach into their savings to pay for one-time expenses, including hospital charges, travel and dining out.
Consumer spending probably dropped 0.2 percent in the three months through December, according to Nomura Securities Co., after advancing in the two previous quarters. The Cabinet Office will release gross domestic product figures Feb. 15.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
Court airs taped grilling of Sugaya
'92 interrogation into slayings led to 'confession'
UTSUNOMIYA, Tochigi Pref. (Kyodo) Audiotapes of a prosecutor questioning Toshikazu Sugaya were played Thursday during his retrial at the Utsunomiya District Court, prompting him to leave the courtroom because he felt sick.
Sugaya, 63, sentenced to life in prison for the 1990 abduction-murder of a 4-year-old girl in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, was released last June after serving 17 years. Fresh evidence to prove his innocence arose from new DNA tests and he is expected to be acquitted following the retrial.
His lawyers say that playing the recordings of the interrogation process will show how Sugaya was forced to make a false confession and how he was victimized by an inappropriate investigation and court trials.
After his arrest in 1991, Sugaya was questioned not only about the 1990 slaying but also about the murder of two other girls in Ashikaga, in 1979 and 1984. With his expected acquittal in the 1990 killing, all three slayings remain unsolved.
On a tape recorded Jan. 28, 1992, the prosecutor questioned Sugaya about the 1984 case, in which a 5-year-old girl was slain, asking him, "Is it really true?" and Sugaya responded, "I took (the girl on my bicycle)," suggesting he was involved in the murder.
But Sugaya eventually denied involvement after the prosecutor said, "Don't glance down. Is it a murder you committed or not?" and he responded, "Actually, I didn't do it."
On the 1990 case for which he was convicted, the prosecutor said, "Were you or weren't you involved in this case as well? I don't want you to be sly," at which Sugaya fell silent. Then the prosecutor asked, "So it's not wrong (to say) that you did it." Sugaya responded that it's not wrong. But when asked again "Did you do it?" Sugaya didn't answer.
The prosecutor also told Sugaya, "We are recording (this interrogation), but you don't have to pay any mind to that."
While the tape was being played, Sugaya left the court, saying he felt sick.
The former prosecutor will testify Friday afternoon.
Sugaya's lawyers have argued it is necessary to disclose the audio recordings to clarify why he made the false confessions. Prosecutors said it isn't necessary because Sugaya will be acquitted anyway.
The move will affect the debate about introducing full video and audio recordings of all interrogations to prevent wrongful convictions.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
Hatoyama reaffirms innocence
By JUN HONGO
Staff writer
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama again proclaimed his innocence Thursday in a political funds scandal involving donations from his mother, telling the House of Representatives Budget Committee that he is ready to resign if the facts prove otherwise.
Prosecutors have revealed that Hatoyama's mother gave some ¥1.26 billion to the prime minister's fund management body from 2002 to 2008, with part of the money apparently disguised as donations from other people, even some deceased.
Two of Hatoyama's former secretaries have been arrested over the case, but Hatoyama has insisted he was not aware of any wrongdoing. When news of the mother's contributions surfaced, they were first deemed "loans," but Hatoyama last month agreed to amend his tax returns and pay more than ¥500 million in gift taxes.
"I swear by the gods of heaven and Earth that I did not know (about the donations). If there are any facts that prove otherwise, I am not eligible to wear the badge" of a Lower House member, Hatoyama said.
The prime minister clashed head-on with Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki in the budget committee meeting. Hatoyama apologized for the recent developments but repeated that the shady money transfers were in no way intended for his personal gain.
But Tanigaki wasted no time in criticizing the transactions, spending 40 minutes of the debate attacking them.
Tanigaki also took a swipe at Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, who has seen three former secretaries arrested earlier this month for an unregistered \350 million land purchase involving funds prosecutors suspect were supplied by general contractors.
The LDP chief also criticized Hatoyama for appearing to encourage Ozawa's defiance of prosecutors.
"It is highly regrettable and very strange" that DPJ executives are involved in such cases, Tanigaki said, demanding that the budget committee hold a special session to discuss the issue.
Hatoyama, repeating that he did not intend to intervene in the investigation of Ozawa's finances, said he was simply backing a colleague who also claims to be innocent.
The ¥7.2 trillion second supplementary budget is expected to be passed by the committee Monday, with New Komeito saying it will support the plan.
Ozawa grilling
Kyodo News
Prosecutors will question Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa on a voluntary basis Saturday in Tokyo, sources said Thursday.
The prosecutors have confirmed the date with the Ozawa side, they said.
The questioning will likely take four hours, during which investigators will ask him about his political fund management body's alleged false political fund reports related to a controversial land purchase, the sources said.
Ozawa is expected repeat his earlier claim that the ¥350 million land deal was entirely funded by his personal assets and not by shady donations from general contractors, the sources said.
Ozawa's personal assets at the time reportedly amounted to ¥600 million, mostly consisting of time deposits and foreign currency-denominated savings made under the names of his wife and three children.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
Desperate wives tap 'secret savings'
Bloomberg
Housewives' "secret savings" fell about 20 percent last year as households were forced to tap these reserves to cover living costs amid falling family income, according to a survey by Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
The value of "hesokuri," the cash, stocks and real estate that housewives stash without telling their husbands, fell to an average of ¥3.7 million from ¥4.6 million a year earlier, according to the company's report on the survey results.
Women traditionally handle family finances in Japan, collecting their husbands' paychecks and handing back pocket-money to cover the cost of lunches, coffee and drinking sessions with colleagues. The portion of winter bonuses returned to husbands as allowances dropped 34 percent to ¥73,000, enough to pay for three or four weekend golf rounds at the Hon Chiba Country Club east of Tokyo.
Consumers, whose spending accounts for more than half of the economy, are paring outlays amid rising unemployment and falling wages. Some 3.3 million people were looking for jobs in November, up 750,000 from a year earlier. Workers' wages slid for an 18th month. Half of those who responded to the survey said they may cut luxury-product purchases, Sompo Japan said.
"From the micro point of view, research on housewives could show us the reality of the nation's economy and provide a glimpse of what lies ahead for business conditions," said Minoru Sugiyama, a spokesman at Sompo Japan.
The research was based on responses from 500 housewives. Their average age was 39.7. Seventy-two respondents said the steps they take to make ends meet include serving more bean sprouts, while 40 said they were cooking more tofu.
About 38 percent of the housewives said lower household incomes forced them to reach into their savings to pay for one-time expenses, including hospital charges, travel and dining out.
Consumer spending probably dropped 0.2 percent in the three months through December, according to Nomura Securities Co., after advancing in the two previous quarters. The Cabinet Office will release gross domestic product figures Feb. 15.
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