Asian Games swimmer Tomita pays fine for camera theft

Taken in isolation, the whole thing makes no sense.

Haven't really been following this, but as a photographer I'm curious - what kind of camera was it?

At $7,600, I'm guessing it wasn't a Canon Powershot.

Haven't really been following this, but as a photographer I'm curious - what kind of camera was it?

Lol, he is now denying that he did it!

On two interviews, he said he was sorry, but that he didn't do it. First he made that comment just before boarding from Inchon Korea, then again after he arrived in Tokyo. Both times with the press interview, he says he apologizes but he says he didn't do it.

If he didn't do it, who was the person in the video recording, and who put the camera in his hotel room where it was found by police? Very odd, if you ask me.

Japan does the same thing to foreign criminals if no restitution is required, they tend to deport them quickly, rather than go to the time and expense of trying them in court, and housing them in jail. It is much simpler to send them home, and not allow them to return.

Nihon no Haji.

I'm glad he got to come home. But, we all know if it was a regular Joe like me who did that, I'd be in jail a long time. Felony Grand Theft, pay a $1,000 fine and get off Scott free, pretty good deal I'd say. Let's see what happens after he returns.

I'm a bit unclear how acquiring an arrest and conviction record, and paying a fine due to said conviction equates to getting off "Scott free" (sic). In addition to the conviction, the man has been internationally disgraced and his status as an athlete for Japan has come to an ignoble end.

idiot

His sporting career over, family all super shamed, destined for a mediocre job...quite sure the monetary punishment is insignificant in the big picture.

I am quite concerned that posters here feel that he should do some serious time (even a day is serious IMO...life is short). Maybe JT should do a piece on anger management.

did the jurno get the camera back? if not he should pay 1; for the camera 2; pay a fine

I don't know about South Korean law, but it America, grand theft (depending on the state), carries a maximum punishment of one year in prison. For certain cases, that prison term can simply amount to 12 months probation and a 1000 dollar fine. For the priviledged celebrities and rich people in America, like the Justin Biebers and Lindsay Lohans, the fine seems to suffice if it's their first offense.

@sfjp330 ... The police set a bad example on double standards. He does not need preferential treatment because of politics.

You make a good case that it was preferential treatment for a foreign celebrity.

However, I think it might not have been for his status, but just because they didn't want attention taken away from the games.

@ Dennis - I can tell you his reasoning..."Dayum, that's a sweet-looking camera. There's nobody here. No way anybody will know I took it. Oops, forgot about the CCTV cameras. I am so sorry, can I go home now?" That's it in a nutshell.

"The shame he'll face from Japanese society and his career is ruined are enough punishment". Really? A regular person would face both of these, plus jail time. A career as a swimmer is so much more important than a normal person's career? I don't think so. The SK cops should have arrested him, as he stole a very expensive camera. It wasn't petty theft, like shoplifting potato chips. That camera costs what some small cars cost new, here in Japan. Book him, Dano.

I am interested in his reasoning

Need to rub this case in? He is a felony grandtheft thief. If your an average Korean citizens, or you or me get caught stealing $7,600.00 worth of goods on hard evidence, do you think Police will let you go? He should be treated like anybody else and go through the due process and face the consequences.

Don't worry about it. He was arrested, paid a big fine which could be a lot of money for him as Olympians/athletes are not all filthy rich, and he will come back to Japan where he will face more media scrutiny and a high population that stand by the media through thick and thin. Besides that, he killed his swimming career which he probably trained for over half his life and will probably have a hard time getting any job since he was the infamous thief.

Fortunately it was not a Chinese national that did this shameless act, otherwise all hell will break loose on Chinese education, the communist government and how poor there are! We should look at this objectively and just let Tomita to be punished and that's it!

what a knucklehead. i'm glad the joc is taking this so seriously. tomita's career is basically finished, and he'll be working as a "lifeguard" in the city pools soon.

This man is such a moron! He seems to be not able to be a good athlete.

I think too the shame he'll face in Japan is punishment enough

@scipantheist

Need to rub this case in? He is a felony grandtheft thief. If your an average Korean citizens, or you or me get caught stealing $7,600.00 worth of goods on hard evidence, do you think Police will let you go? He should be treated like anybody else and go through the due process and face the consequences.

Only thing more pathetic than this guy is the people that feel the need to rub this case in.

South Korean police should've put this guy away in jail and teach him a lesson. The police set a bad example on double standards. He does not need preferential treatment because of politics. This guy is a real scumbag loser and a felony thief.

I'm glad he got to come home. But, we all know if it was a regular Joe like me who did that, I'd be in jail a long time. Felony Grand Theft, pay a $1,000 fine and get off Scott free, pretty good deal I'd say. Let's see what happens after he returns.