Reports or statements from organizations like Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch

Japanese Prosecutors Finalize Acquittal of Iwao Hakamata After 58 Years on Death Row

Oct 9, 2024, 06:21 AM

Japanese prosecutors have decided not to appeal the recent acquittal of Iwao Hakamata, who was convicted of the robbery and murder of four people in 1966 and had been sentenced to death. Hakamata, a former boxer, lost 58 years of his life due to what courts have ruled was evidence mostly fabricated by investigators. This decision, made on Sept. 26, finalizes Hakamata’s acquittal, making him the world's longest-serving death row prisoner to be exonerated. The case has drawn attention to Japan's 'hostage justice' system, with human rights groups warning that it fosters false convictions.