Prosecutors decide not to indict woman who set fire to hotel room in Tokyo

Prosecutors said Thursday they had dropped the arson charge but gave no reason.

The hotel was most likely financially compensated for the damage. But, that really shouldn't affect a serious criminal charge such as arson, should it? Oh yeah...TIJ.

I guess seeing as deliberately setting fire to a school with kids inside attracts just a suspended sentence, "logic" follows that setting fire to a hotel shouldn't attract any penalty.

She must be related to a family that has some historical importance, or a company that is too large to be named. It’s not like prosecutors are allowed freedom of action.

Prosecutors said Thursday they had dropped the arson charge but gave no reason. That says it all.

Even for Japanese law and Justice things are getting weird lately. Guys sets fire to a school? Suspended sentence. Guy diverts a flight, even assaulting a cabin attendant and then ridiculing the judge in court? Suspended sentence. Woman sets fire to an apartment building? Let’s drop the charges!

Oh, no - There will be no suspended sentence. She clearly has psychological problems that would be much better addressed by involuntary commitment to psychological treatment for a long, long time. Frankly, I wish the US would take such an approach instead of tossing psychologically damaged people into jail, from which the emerge simply more psychologically damaged.

You really don’t want contact with J-police. And defiantly with the “courts” or prosecutors. It will be a disaster, you could be reading a book on a park bench but be 100 metres from a Crime so that makes you guilty In Japanese law. You are going to detention until you admit your guilt. Unless you are rich and a native, then suspended sentence at worst.

I’m so confused. To my knowledge only a grand jury can “indict” someone and only state prosecutors can “charge” somebody. Maybe it’s different in Japan? Never really had a reason to know.

By all means, if she wanted to die. But why by fire? The most horrible way to die? And why endanger the lives of all guests and staff in the four story hotel? And the fire could have spread to neighbouring buildings killing and injuring many more people including children and old people by the most horrible way to die : by fire? And finally, why wasn't she chatged? She is a grown adult of 31 wasn't she? She is not a teenager.

By all means, if she wanted to die. But why by fire? The most horrible way to die? And why endanger the lives of all guests and staff in the four story hotel? And the fire could have spread to neighbouring buildings killing and injuring many more people including children and old people by the most horrible way to die : by fire? And finally, why wasn't she chatged? She is a grown adult of 31 wasn't she? She is not a teenager.

Maybe she just fell asleep after lighting a cigarette? Terrible mistakes happen. That's not arson.

What she need is medical help. Way too young to end your life like that.

Plus the hotel probably drop the charges to avoid having to deal with all of this. And in case there is no compensation demanded out of her, the insurance will probably cover it.

Maybe she just fell asleep after lighting a cigarette? Terrible mistakes happen. That's not arson.

She was quoted as saying she wanted to die when questioned by the police. That infers that the fire was intentional, not an accident.

Gaijinland,you living in Japan, should know all punishment in Japan,is handled by administration judges,which is totally unfair,when Japanese judges will not go against a ruling ,even if a judge know you are guilty,he cannot convict you,but can exonerate you even after a verdict by a jury, Japanese do not trust their citizen judgement on legal matter

Paul 14,

Would any person light a cigarette to commit suicide?

Hope she gets some help for whatever it is that is troubling her.

Lots of troubling thing going on these days more than ever in recent memory.