crime

Man sent to prosecutors over defamatory posts about man who lost wife, child in reckless driving case

18 Comments

Aichi prefectural police have sent a 22-year-old man to prosecutors after he was arrested in March on suspicion of posting defamatory messages on Twitter directed at a 35-year-old man whose wife and child were killed in a case of negligent driving in 2019.

Takuya Matsunaga’s wife Mana, 31, and their 3-year-old daughter Riko, were on a bicycle on a crossing where they were hit by a car driven by Kozo Iizuka, 90, on April 19, 2019. Both died later in hospital. Nine other people were injured.

Last September, Iizuka, former head of the now-defunct Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, was sentenced to five years in prison for dangerous driving resulting in death. The court ruled that Iizuka ran a red light after mistaking the accelerator for the brake. Iizuka had pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against him, maintaining that a mechanical issue with the vehicle caused him to lose control. However, the court determined that he kept the accelerator pressed for about 10 seconds, causing the car to accelerate to a speed of up to 96 kilometers per hour.

Since the incident, Matsunaga has been campaigning to prevent accidents involving elderly drivers. The government has also urged elderly drivers to give up their licenses.

On March 11, the suspect, who hasn't been named, allegedly posted several comments on Twitter, using an anonymous account, accusing Matsunaga of seeking public attention and money, Fuji TV reported. The post was later deleted but Matsunaga filed a complaint with police who traced the post to the suspect’s cell phone.

The case is the latest in a series of incidents involving online insults in Japan. A justice ministry panel last October proposed tougher penalties for people found guilty of posting hateful comments online.

At present, the penalty against insults is detention for less than 30 days or a fine of less than 10,000 yen. The proposed amendments will introduce a prison term of up to one year and raise the fine to up to 300,000 yen.

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18 Comments
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He knew he was doing something wrong by using an anonymous account,

Eh, not so fast. In many places on many topics that are sensitive to the prevailing government being able to use an anonymous account is the difference between being able to express an opinion contrary to the received wisdom of the rulers or going to jail. It can be the difference between free speech and censorship, or even worse arrest.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The man....has just lost his wife and only daughter.

I´m only 1 week without seeing my son and wife (at her parents' house coming back tomorrow) and I can't help thinking about them every single hour, seeing pictures on my phone as if they were 1 year away, never imagined it would be like this.

This father has been punished for life, for every single hour of his life.

These are the kinds of things we can only feel and truly understand after becoming a parent.

Beautifully said and entirely true yet two people here felt the need to give you a negative vote.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wow, corrupt company presidents don't get that, what a time to be an idiotic tweeter.

the penalty against insults is detention for less than 30 days

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

A 5 year old mind in a 22 year old body...a complete lack of any understanding of the enormity of what was lost to his victim. If only it were just a few Humans crippled with such emotional blindness and mindless cruelty but, as any may see in the world around us and particularly in those who cheer war, that is not our reality as Humans.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Iizuka, former head of the now-defunct Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, was sentenced to five years in prison for dangerous driving resulting in death.

....but I have the feeling he escaped imprisonment due to 'health issues'.... if anyone can find definitive info on this......

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He ran the red light and hit the pedestrians killing two of them. That’s all there is to it. He can try all the standard excuses.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He knew he was doing something wrong by using an anonymous account, let him deal with the consequences.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

These types; those who resent victims and their demands for change and compensation, have been around for a while. Social media just gives them an easier forum to spread their hate. The victims of Minamata Disease have been suffering from abuse for years even violent at times from people who despise them being victims. Probably some Chisso employees and local Yakuza involved as well.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Takuya Matsunaga is a true father and husband who continues to fight to protect future generations from experiencing the tragedy that he experienced. I don't get why somebody would criticize him for this unless they are an elderly driver with no license/expired license risking the public with their driving daily.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The case is the latest in a series of incidents involving online insults in Japan. A justice ministry panel last October proposed tougher penalties for people found guilty of posting hateful comments online.

At present, the penalty against insults is detention for less than 30 days or a fine of less than 10,000 yen. The proposed amendments will introduce a prison term of up to one year and raise the fine to up to 300,000 yen.

Free speech is not only expensive, but now it can be time consuming.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Of course it is a douchecanoe move to write bad things about a grieving parent. Nobody disagrees. However, is this really a case where we need men with guns to put someone in a cage? Particularly in this case where Mr. Matsunaga has chosen to put himself in the public spotlight by being an advocate for reforming drivers' licensing. His public profile sadly makes him an easy target.

I agree with Snowy that "society's available justice" should be rendered. The perp should be named and shamed, shunned in polite company, and so on. But locked up by the government? Sorry, that is a bad precedent for the crime of being rude.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Truly vile and reprehensible acts against a grieving husband and father if they happened as alleged. In this case, if found guilty, may the full extent of society’s available justice be rendered.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

On March 11, the suspect, who hasn't been named, allegedly posted several comments on Twitter, using an anonymous account, accusing Matsunaga of seeking public attention and money

Speechless. The defamer is only 22 years old and still has lots to learn but still I can't think about any motive for his actions.

The man....has just lost his wife and only daughter.

I´m only 1 week without seeing my son and wife (at her parents' house coming back tomorrow) and I can't help thinking about them every single hour, seeing pictures on my phone as if they were 1 year away, never imagined it would be like this.

This father has been punished for life, for every single hour of his life.

These are the kinds of things we can only feel and truly understand after becoming a parent.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

As horrible as his comments were, the suspect could have avoided any legal repercussions by adding "allegedly" to whatever he was posting.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

arrested in March on suspicion of posting defamatory messages on Twitter 

This is a good example why all the flag waving for musk is idiotic. Musk can claim to remove moderation but he can’t do anything about established international laws.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

It takes an especially cruel person to harass and defame someone who has experienced such an enormous loss. I cannot imagine why anyone would go so low.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

At present, the penalty against insults is detention for less than 30 days or a fine of less than 10,000 yen. The proposed amendments will introduce a prison term of up to one year and raise the fine to up to 300,000 yen.

So get your insults in quickly before the price goes up...

Or just be a better person and keep your stupid ideas to yourself.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

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