Act of Violence; [Former Fukushima Prefectural Governor Eisaku Sato] Comment on Supreme Court’s Decision

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Comment on Supreme Court’s Decision: Eisaku Sato

 Mr. Eisaku Sato is the former Fukushima prefectural governor.

Mr. Sato gained the reputation as a “fighting governor” and won overwhelmingly wide support in the prefecture because he voiced an objection against Tokyo overconcentration and challenged the government policy on nuclear power plants and regional system.

He had continued to strongly oppose to a plutonium-thermal power generation project since the TEPCO covered up accidents.

In September, 2006, 18^th year as governorship in the 5^th term of office, he was grilled on a bribery scandal over a dam construction for which the prefecture placed an order, resigned as governor, and then was arrested.  In October, 2009, he was found guilty at the second trial as well as the first trial, with an unprecedented holding of “nil bribe-taking.”  He was appealing to a final court.

Comment on Supreme Court Decision by Eisaku Sato           October 16, 2012

I’d like to post my comment sent to newspaper offices after receiving the Supreme Court decision, in my blog, too.

Today, on October 16, the Supreme Court has decided to turn down an appeal from me, Eisaku Sato.

I am not guilty over bribery charge questioned in this trial and the top court ruling is unacceptable.  I feel very disappointed at the judiciary of this country which ignores the truth.

At first rate, this case was castles in the air, in which ‘something’ was created out of ‘nothing.’

My brother and I were suddenly arrested on charge of bribery and forced to make a confession to a crime of which we knew nothing, by the prosecutor of the investigative team from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office in the interrogation room of the Tokyo detention house isolated from the outside world.

My supporters have been all summoned by the investigative team and have undergone severe interrogation, which has resulted in an attempted suicide.  I suffered a lot in a cell and made a false confession to the crime one time, thinking that “I will take the rap so as to save my supporters.”

However, with the start of the trial, requirements for bribery charge were overrode one after another.  My alibi was proved because “God’s Word” which allegedly I said to the head of the civil engineering division at the governor’s room was considered to be impossible.

Isao Mizutani, former chairman of Mizutani Kensetsu Co., testified that “I bought a land lot owned by the governor’s brother’s company with a bribe to the governor.”  Later he testified that “Although I testified so by transactions made with the prosecutor, the truth is different.  The governor is innocent.”

The team’s plan to indict me on a bribery charge came to nothing.

My brother heard the prosecutor in charge say this in the interrogation room of the Tokyo detention house.

“Governor Sato is not good for Japan.  He will be eliminated in the near future.”

Looking back, this could have been what the scandal is all about.

During the term of office, I severely confronted the character of the country and the utility firm, which tried to cover up the accidents and troubles at Fukushima No. 1 and No.2 nuclear power plants of TEPCO, to secure safety of 2.1 million citizens of Fukushima Prefecture.

As for putting into practice a plutonium-thermal power generation project, I established “Energy Policy Investigative Commission” to repeat discussions and refused the project because I found it questionable.  The scandal took place in the midst of such “cut and thrust.”

Very regrettably, three nuclear reactors including Fukushima No. 3 reactor where power was generated by plutonium-thermal use suffered meltdowns.  My concern became reality in an unexpected fashion

Our irreplaceable “Hometown Fukushima” was contaminated and many residents of the prefecture are still forced to evacuate their homes.

The people of Fukushima are forced to bear hardship and live an uneasy life.  The very thought of it make my heart break.

On the other hand, it was revealed that evidence of floppy disks was falsified in the postal injustice case immediately after my case.  The aggressive way for the investigative team to conduct an investigation by making an unnatural story was brought to light.

Prosecutor Tsunehiko Maeda got a prison sentence in the floppy falsification case and served time in prison.  It is Prosecutor Maeda himself that interrogated Mr. Isao Mizutani in my case and approached him with a deal.

It is natural that my case should have been reexamined and I should have been found innocent.

However, I hear that the Supreme Court turned down both appeals from me and the prosecutor.

The final and binding judgment of second instance rendered by the Tokyo High Court was very strange.  Although the court acknowledged that my brother and I had been found guilty of bribery, it admitted no surcharge, that is, “zero of bribery amount.”

And the verdict suggested that “there is a possibility that the governor did not have the slightest recognition of bribe-taking.”  If so, I should have been found innocent.  However, the Court adjudicated me of guilty though practically innocent, to save the face of the investigative team.

Today’s decision indicates that the Supreme Court, the highest judicial organ, has officially admitted the judgment of second instance to curry favor with the team.  I, as the person concerned, am indignant with the Court for its injustice.  At the same time, I am worried that this decision will definitely lead to serious problems in the future of Japan.

i

Residents of Fukushima Prefecture and the people of Japan,

I’d like to keep on fighting for an acquittal, including appeal for retrial, while consulting with my lawyers.

I ask you to let your heart go out to me.