Japanese politician's drug trial ends in China

Its hard to know what the real situation is. Innocent dupe or knowing mule? Maybe, Maybe not. Given the general level of distrust and dshonesty that exists between both China and Japan at the moment it will be impossible to get to the truth of the matter.. Which is a shame because he could be innocent.

"He was handed a suitcase by two African associates, and was asked to give it to the wife of one of them in Tokyo"

If he didn't suspect something illegal might be in the suitcase, then he really is hopelessly stupid. At first I thought that Chinese government might have tampered some evidence, but I read more about this and it just seems like a case of incredibly stupid person. And he is/was a city council member ? smh

with prosecutors asking for a sentence ranging from 15 years to death,

Wow, that's a pretty big range. Guess it is that way so the Chinese government can decide exactly what kind of a message they want to send to Japan right now.

If this African guys wife is in Tokyo go get his wife and make a trade off if he is any kind of man and don't want his wife in jail he would come forward and take the heat also if the wife was on the receiving end to get the suitcase she probably knew what was in the suit case and part of the scheme if in fact what the Japanese politician is saying is true.

I wonder if this guy really needed the money. Could he have got seriously into debt owing money to the yakuza? I have always imagined that there is a connection between loan-sharking and drug smuggling as a way to pay of the debt.

jerseyboyAug. 30, 2014 - 07:35AM JST Wow, that's a pretty big range. Guess it is that way so the Chinese government can decide exactly what kind of a message they want to send to Japan right now.

He's 70 years old. 15 years in prison is death. The death sentence would probably be quicker and less painful.

Everyone seems to presume this guy's guilt. But the sheer number of 俺俺詐欺 ("It's me" scams), there is plenty of proof that many older people can get fooled fairly easy. It's very possible that this guy was as ignorant to what he was carrying as he says.

'He was handed a suitcase by two African associates in Guangzhou, in southern China, and was asked to give it to the wife of one of them in Tokyo, according to the reports.' A 70 years old politician still fell for it? I won't fall for his story that's for sure.

Take a look at the pictures of the guy. He was in good shape.

His wife is Finnish apparently.

Most likely he wanted to pay off debts.

Jerseyboy,

The wide range of 15 years to life, 25 years to life in US is very common as well. It really depends if its a state or federal offense.

To give you an example, California has this thing called the 3 strikes law, if you have committed a petty theft with a prior, do that 3 times and you're in for life due to your habitual nature of committing a felonious crime. You don't need to killed anyone or intent to distribute narcotics to get life. And petty theft is like stealing candies from a supermarket or snatching a purse off a shelf. There are other factors to be considered such as frequency and can you be rehabilitated.

Its a wide range depending on the type of crime. Trafficking drugs in China is almost an automatic death sentence. That's almost common sense, much like Malaysia. When in Rome, respect their law.

He is 70 years old. He could be promoted up, up bu now to be a drug king such as drug importer to Japanese underworld organization. You don't see underworld oyabuns under 70 years old often. Always excuse I did not know what was inside when traffickers are caught.

The peculiar point to this case is that he was caught during departure. Narcotic insepction dogs usually check entry into a country not departure so why was he flagged?

Another point is the so called Africans, where did they obtain the narcotics?

The peculiar point to this case is that he was caught during departure. Narcotic insepction dogs usually check entry into a country not departure so why was he flagged?

It happens on both ends.

I'm not argue his story about two African is true or fault but all Japanese travelers should be avoid taken and carrying box or bag for unknown stranger especially from African man. Many westerner women and Asian women were fall into Nigerian conman scam and end up in the overseas jail. Some victims have face with death penalty and some victims were executed for drug trafficking in country like Singapore, Malaysia and Thai. These African conman are good talker and friendly. Most of them are living in Bangkok and have Thai wife. They are involving in selling stolen Pass Port and drug trafficking.

I believe Takuma Sakuragi - san was victim of African conman. I was wondering why Chinese Police and Japanese Police do not tracking down wife of one of two African man in Japan. Takuma Sakuragi -san should have asked what is inside the suit case and check it before accepting. However, I understand old man has no idea about this kind of scam and he did it with good faith. He will be probably died in jail. This is lesson for all Japanese peoples.

SamuraiBlue: The peculiar point to this case is that he was caught during departure. Narcotic insepction dogs usually check entry into a country not departure so why was he flagged?

Beijing has guards with drug dogs roaming the departure terminal. You'd expect them to have more once behind the walls, once you lose sight of your luggage on the belt.

And luggage goes through X-ray machines. A suitcase with nothing but platform shoes would look pretty suspicious to me. Likely the operator could see that there was something funny in the heels.

Comments here are funny. Local news outlets in Aichi are reporting that the guy was in serious debt and was in the said trip to recover some monies. He can't be that stupid to accept the bags and not check the content. He knew what he was doing.

Can get death penalty for 50 grams in China and he was caught with 3 kg.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140829_02.html

People found guilty in China of transporting 50 grams or more of stimulants can face at least 15 years in prison, life imprisonment or even the death sentence. In Sakuragi's case, the prosecution is also asking that his properties be seized.

SamuraiBlueAug. 31, 2014 - 01:03AM JST

They often catch outgoing travelers from places drugs are smuggled out of the country. Bolivia, Brazil etc. Which is convenient because they generally have less appealing prisons than the country couriers try to enter.

Do the crime, do the time! It's that simple! Bad news is, if you deal in the drug trade in China, it usually means a bullet! He new the risks!! No sympathy here!

turbotsat

Sniffer dogs at departure is sniffing for explosives not drugs.

boweevilAug. 30, 2014 - 07:10AM JST

Its hard to know what the real situation is.

If we do not know the real situation, ther verdict should be "not guilty".

Hide SuzukiAug. 30, 2014 - 07:29AM JST

If he didn't suspect something illegal might be in the suitcase, then he really is hopelessly stupid.

Being stupid is not a crime.

highball7Aug. 30, 2014 - 03:16PM JST

Its a wide range depending on the type of crime.

What is peculiar here is that same type of crime has wide range of punishment.

changeSep. 01, 2014 - 07:49AM JST

Comments here are funny. Local news outlets in Aichi are reporting that the guy was in serious debt and was in the said trip to recover some monies. He can't be that stupid to accept the bags and not check the content. He knew what he was doing.

Being in debt does not make the debtor a presumed criminal. The above comment is just a possibility, which is far from a proof.

SamuraiBlue,

Sniffer dogs in China routinely sniffs for drugs, explosives, insects, and even certain types of metals and contraband.

They even have sniffer dogs for termites and different types of insects on departure terminals.

You CAN google about this. There is such a thing called the internet.