Ex-yakuza member arrested for murder committed 16 years ago

"(May 21, 2010) The Diet, Japan's legislature, amended the country's Criminal Procedure Law to abolish the statute of limitations for murder and other crimes that result in the deaths of persons. The amendments became effective on April 28, 2010, the day after the Law to Amend the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Law was promulgated (Law No. 26 of 2010). The new Law is applied to cases in which the statute of limitations had not run out as of its effective date, even if the crime was committed before the new Law's enactment. (Criminal Procedure Law, Law No. 131 of 1948, amended by Law No. 26, Attached Provisions, art. 3.)"

my father in law managed to leave, so it can be done, you might lose a pinky in the process though!

An officer reportedly spotted Zaitsu. Yeah right? I am sure the officer just happened to know what this guy looked like.

@Chin4Sailor, yes you are probably correct if the SOL was 16 years or less but since the SOL for murder was 20+ years, even under the old law he would be prosecuted as the SOL hadn't expired.

@Terry Tibbs

Statute of limitations was abolished in murder cases in 2010.

Really..? Even then, technically, he cannot be charged for a murder that had actually expired under the then, statute of limitations... He would have had to commit the murder(s) after the new law went into effect. (or within the limit of the then statute)

If this were the case, there were dozens of murder cases, which were not prosecuted, because hey were outside the statute... So that would mean, they can now prosecute all these other cases, going back even 50 or 60 years...

So you can leave the yakuza without being killed...interesting.. I wonder what kind of trial he will have since it has been sixteen years.

I think the statute of limitations was abolished in 2010. So he will face his crimes. Malfupete yes you can leave the yakuza you can quit anytime you like.

the only way to "leave" the yakuza is for your oyabun to kick you out.. you can't just quit or retire from it

In a country where you cannot hide a bicycle for more than a week: Chapeau Zaitsu-san!

statute of limitations?"

Japan eliminated the statute of limitations for murder a few years ago.

These Japanese police are so cool!!

Where had he been hiding all this time?

It is amazing that he should be arrested by some eagle eyed cop?!?!

More to this story.........?

I didn't think there was any such thing as EX-Yakuza?

Statute of limitations was abolished in murder cases in 2010.

They used to have a SOL on murder but I believe it was abolished and in any event, it was 25 years so this guy would have no chance regardless.

wanted for a double murder committed in Kobe in 1997 has been arrested after 16 years on the run

Really...?

I thought Japan (one of the only industrialized countries) still had a Statute of Limitations on Murder, something like 7 or 8 years..?

Somebody has to stop the yak on yak crime.

wakarimasen...can't read?

after he came out of hiding,

Was he on the run or in hiding?

Good thing to hear he has confessed to both murders.

I heard on the news last night that they caught him yet can't do anything else about it because of "statute of limitations?" is that correct? If true, that is really one of the most ridiculous statutes ever concocted in mankind