crime

New prosecutor defends handling of Ghosn case

50 Comments
By Yuri Kageyama

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The criminal legal system is designed so that we must look at the evidence," Sogi told reporters at the Tokyo Prosecutors Office. "Overall balance is important."

You know, I bet he really believes this, otherwise how could he say it with a straight face?

20 ( +22 / -2 )

Sogi does not know what hostage justice system means. That's almost as good as the "I was drunk at the time" excuse.

23 ( +24 / -1 )

Asked about criticisms of Japan's criminal system as "hostage justice," referring to prolonged detentions of suspects possibly leading to false confessions, Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant.

Lol, way to dodge the question.

"Overall balance is important."

Another common non-answer.

24 ( +25 / -1 )

Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what (hostage justice) meant.

That's scary. Pray that you never get falsely arrested in Japan.

22 ( +23 / -1 )

Asked about criticisms of Japan's criminal system as "hostage justice," referring to prolonged detentions of suspects possibly leading to false confessions, Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant.

Such a Japanese response.

21 ( +22 / -1 )

ecutor defends handling of Ghosn case

Why would anybody expect any different?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Asked about criticisms of Japan's criminal system as "hostage justice," referring to prolonged detentions of suspects possibly leading to false confessions, Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant.

The man is stupid, really he doesn't have any idea what his job entails?

He has to clean up Nissans mess, while pretending the government is hands off. What a highly educated man obviously can't actually do. Might be a problem with the system perhaps.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

It takes a special kind of moron to think the Japanese "justice" system is okay as is.

We could put any of these prosecutors in a room for a long enough time and treat them like the Japanese police treat inmates and get the prosecutors to confess to whatever we wanted.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

Surprise, surprise. Probably had to think very hard to come up with the octopus metaphor. He probably hoped that people will notice how he came up with that brilliant idea. What a clown.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

If they have the evidence to keep him in detention, how can Ghosn's wife or anyone else (besides the authorities who have the evidence) tamper with it? Ridiculous premise.

If they are still looking for evidence, how long do they need? Indefinite hardly seems reasonable. As long as they fail to find the evidence, he is imprisoned without even so much as a trial.

They are keeping him in detention to allow them to (a)produce the necessary evidence or (b) get a confession, false or otherwise, from Ghosn to convict him and they will keep him there as long as it takes to do either. They've already decided he's guilty.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

He said he modeled his work style on an octopus going amok in a jar, remaining flexible while moving freely to try various solutions.

Must be one hell of a big jar to be able to "remain flexible" and " move around "freely".

18 ( +18 / -0 )

He said he modeled his work style on an octopus going amok in a jar, remaining flexible while moving freely to try various solutions.

appropriate analogy.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

If everything is ok then why do they need a new prosecutor?

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Prosecutor Sogi said -

"..He said he modeled his work style on an octopus going amok in a jar, remaining flexible while moving freely to try various solutions.."

This is just gobbledegook at it's finest.

No free press in any democratic country would allow a senior govt official to get away with such a comment.

He'd be "Taco-Yaki" in no time at all.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

Asked about criticisms of Japan's criminal system as "hostage justice," referring to prolonged detentions of suspects possibly leading to false confessions, Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant.

What a crock of shaving cream!

11 ( +11 / -0 )

You know, I bet he really believes this, otherwise how could he say it with a straight face?

That could be, but since it's his responsibility it's more like he's being disingenuous with not only everyone, but to himself personally as well in order that he may do his job. For the protection of his status and his very job itself, he can and will justify anything. Once indoctrinated fully into the system and in fact becoming a part of the system, it would be a miracle in itself for this gentleman to believe anything else than what he's known all his life. A strong belief system can withstand a barrage of facts and truths thrown at it and still not break.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Had Mr Sogi a job that required performance being related to pay,

then he would be a poor man....

10 ( +11 / -1 )

"Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant."

Speaks volumes.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

I don't blame him, he was brought up in the system and made to believe it is the best, it is the only system he knows and to expect the contrary would be naivety.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

"Asked about criticisms of Japan's criminal system as "hostage justice," referring to prolonged detentions of suspects possibly leading to false confessions, Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant."

shameless shameless, we clearly see the "hostage justice" and he is a prosecutor but does not know what it meant. another moron.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Asked about criticisms of Japan's criminal system as "hostage justice," referring to prolonged detentions of suspects possibly leading to false confessions, Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant.

Hostage Justice, the investigation put the suspects in custody as long as possible, they conduct interrogations as much as possible to get confessions.

wife is not a suspect, but prosecutors say prohibiting contact, including emails and meetings with a third party present, is needed to prevent evidence tampering.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/09/22/national/lead-prosecutor-in-muraki-case-arrested/

One of case where there was actual evidence tampering happened is done by Tsuneshiko Maeda a prosecutor.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Octopus SUCK. Is Sogi saying he SUCKS?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Porto, “They are keeping him in detention”

Ghosn is not in detention. He has been out on bail since April.

Educator60, right you are. Then allow me to revise my statement.

They were keeping him in detention to allow them to (a)produce the necessary evidence or (b) get a confession, false or otherwise, from Ghosn to convict him and they would've liked to keep him there as long as it takes to do either. They've already decided he's guilty.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

remaining flexible while moving freely to try various solutions.

One of which is to facilitate the "right" media narrative.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I am not sure if Ghosn is guilty or innocent. It sure looks like he engaged in unethical behavior. He does not appear at all like a guy I would have anything in common with and I probably would not like him.

However....the way the case is being handled and the fact he cannot even contact his family is absolutely barbaric, disgusting, and indefensible. Denying family contact (he has a wife AND kids) is something I would expect to see from a dictatorship.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Prosecutor Sogi says he "really doesn't understand the meaning of: Hostage Justice". In that case I wonder if he understands the meaning of "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law". Japan should remove the admisabiliy of confessions in court. Confessions have proven unreliable especially when obtained under duress.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Asked about criticisms of Japan's criminal system as "hostage justice," referring to prolonged detentions of suspects possibly leading to false confessions, Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant.

“Houston, we have a problem.”

I’m hoping someone in Japan can please explain this to him!

8 ( +8 / -0 )

"The criminal legal system is designed so that we must look at the evidence," Sogi told reporters at the Tokyo Prosecutors Office. "Overall balance is important."

Translation: Lock him up so we can make evidence "balance" in our favor,

and he can't do a thing about it.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Like I have been saying for DECADES the ""J-justice"" system is something dictators & despots worldwide DREAM about, & this new dude...….I wonder what world they guys come from not to see the barbarity of the system they are in!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

If he has to defend the system clearly something is wrong with the system.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

about criticisms of Japan's criminal system as "hostage justice,"

didn't really understand what that meant.

How about fair justice systems and human right, just don't say not understand that too.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The highest form of democracy was generated in Athen by the greeks.

Ancient romans will retain such values until the rise of their empire.

The modern one comes from the U.S. and France.

For Japan concept of equality and human rights is something still relative new and somehow unfamiliar.

I hope that the next generations will try to understand that in the modern world some old feudal ways are not possible anymore and will be able to change them.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

In this face saving move I just hope this case goes quickly, Ghosn be freed soon and justice be done.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Lets give the new prosecutor a chance. All good Japanese will be looking at him and the results of his performance. Talking is not enough to do anything. Carlos case had been long and unfair.While co-conspritors like saikwa and his Japanese gang goes free. Anyone who had a little common sense knows that this is a back-stabbing case as in Japan without Japanese help, nothing can happen. My question had alaways been , why is saikawa not arrested ???. Pls give a good example to the world.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Ghosn's case is pending for a while now, I wonder what will be the outcome and When??

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I actually met Ghosn once and he was very likeable. He did seem to have a tight grip but unlike most chief executive he took any question and gave straight answers. Others usually want to control the questions and often avoid answering what they don't want. Besides it takes someone very special to navigate and bring together people from around the globe including Japanese, French and Brazilians. That doesn't mean that he did nothing illegal. Having said that, the few millions in doubt still would not justify the treatment he got from the company or the prosecutors. But the Japanese and investors who did not rise and complain got their punishment already: the company has already lost half it's value.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I am not shocked though about Ghosn's treatment. What is shocking is that Saikawa still has his job. He has destroyed Nissan and the partnership with Renault. It will take a decade and in much abler hands to recover.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If "Overall balance is important." why the procecution didn't lock up Saikawa and all of the Nissan's financial department. They were free for too long to tamper with the evidence!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Lets give the new prosecutor a chance. All good Japanese will be looking at him and the results of his performance. Talking is not enough to do anything. Carlos case had been long and unfair.While co-conspritors like saikwa and his Japanese gang goes free. Anyone who had a little common sense knows that this is a back-stabbing case as in Japan without Japanese help, nothing can happen. My question had alaways been , why is saikawa not arrested ???. Pls give a good example to the world.

Fair enough, lets give him a chance. First of all ask the court to lift this ban on contacting his spouse.

Secondly request a warrant for the arrest of Saikawa.

Thirdly, take a tripo to the UK. In the county of Surrey is a place called Runneymede. It is regarded internationally as the birthplace of Human Rights, in 1215.

(the is one of the original copies of the Magna Carta in the British Museum. Learn something.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

'newly appointed chief prosecutor defended his office's handling of the case' - of course he would - no appointee will bite the hand that feeds him. he was appointed to carry the party line

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Be warned and stay away. If more take heed we might move the mountain of injustice.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Tetsuya Sogi said he didn't really understand what that meant.

dont understand what hostage justice is yet youve now been appointed chief prosecutor!! good lord help us!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japanese judges must play their part too. Put the rubber stamps away, and start thinking, understanding their roles of upholding the law / rule of law, within Japans constitution, and above all, upholding human rights.

For goodness sake J-judges, you are supposed to be judges.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Bla, bla, bla...this replacement is only going to generate bogus accusations!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Firstly, he is APPOINTED and he must respect the system, no need to listen to him, it is a tape recording. Secondly he knows that what Ghosn was arrested for initially failed to produce good enough results and they kept on going..At the end of the day pray you are not falsely arrested. He has to much power, of the like that you do not find in the west Too much to be just an octopus in a jar

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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