Balentien apologizes in Japan for Florida arrest

Wladimir Balentien has apologized to his fans, several days after pleading not guilty

Well, that seems to be a bit of a contradiction, eh?

As usual, so long as you are a celebrity and apologize for being caught, drugs are okay.

smithinjapan

I suggest you stay silent since you have no idea what he was charged or what this incident is about.

so if convicted will he be allowed to enter Japan? will he have his visa cancelled? will be double standards for Japan immigration if he is allowed to stay.

well interesting case, from Curacao, but flying on Japanese papers which is how he got out of the states with his celebrity status.

Domestic violence normally moves through the courts quickly, surprised he got such a big stay and was allowed out of the country.

but then usually you don't have a lot of expensive lawyers show up to the hearing

i would not be surprised if he looks his schedule and if no reason to go to the US just fails to show for the hearing

Assistant State Attorney Alejandra Lopez told the court she was concerned that Balentien, who is not a U.S. citizen, might not appear for his next court date if he was allowed to return to Japan.

Perjudy charges are awaiting as he pled not builty.

The Original WingJan. 29, 2014 - 03:52PM JST

Wladimir Balentien has apologized to his fans, several days after pleading not guilty

Well, that seems to be a bit of a contradiction, eh?

If you're an American with no idea what the words, "cultural sensitivity" mean, then yes.

In U.S. culture an apology is a confession and admission of guilt. You're apologising because you're guilty of doing something wrong.

In Japanese culture an apology is good manners and not an admission of guilt. You're apologising because you're sorry the situation arose, that people were inconvenienced, and that stuff happened, but not necessarily because you did anything wrong.

The U.S. view is actually the minority view internationally. In the U.K., Canada, almost all of Europe, South America, Africa, and most of Asia an apology is viewed as good manners, but not an admission of guilt. This is quite a basic cultural difference and is in no small way responsible for the international reputation that people from the U.S. have for having no manners and being irresponsible jerks.

Balentien is apologising to his Japanese fans, so he's (correctly) adopting a Japanese cultural frame of reference. In the U.S., speaking to U.S. fans, he wouldn't apologise because he maintains he is not guilty.

He has also agreed to sign an extradition waiver, his lawyers said, relieving Japanese authorities of any need to protect him if prosecutors in the U.S. sought his arrest. He is not native born Japanese anyway. His apology will be used against him in Miami court.

In most domestic violence cases in the US if the judge grants bail and allows the suspect to leave the country then the case against the defendant is weak and will most likely not even see a trial.

In most domestic violence cases in the US if the judge grants bail and allows the suspect to leave the country then the case against the defendant is weak and will most likely not even see a trial.

I read somewhere he just grabbed her wrist as she was trying to walk away.

I call that a grey area of domestic violence. If he held on for a prolonged period of time and/or caused visible bruising, then I could see how it could be domestic violence. But if he just grabbed her wrist and then let go, that seems like a case of domestic violence laws going overboard.

Japanese who apologize for his crimes were treated as he committed crime and incarcerated. It is not Japanese custom what he did in Japan. He needed criminal lawyer but maybe he did not know domestic violences are crime in USA. He has to pay 10% of bond as bail. If he does not appear in Miami Court, FBI will take case to hunt all over the world. Well. IRS hunt is tougher than FBI but at least IRS does not shoot you. Al Capone, FBI could not catch but IRS did. If he is sentenced by judge, that is it. Jury trial, if not everybody agrees, mistrial but he does not have a criminqal lawyer (as this lawyers big mouth indicate), unlikely in jury trial. In any case, he will be convicted. Seasoned criminal lawyers recommend his clients to use 5th amendment, There are many criminals who used 5th amendments 37 times, 56 times, etc for his racketeering trials,. (Sin City based Mafias before City became legitimate casino capital of the world)

We have no idea what went on. As is the case with most celebrity arrests, the haters come out and assume the worst. Domestic abuse can mean a lot of things, and in most cases they always take the side of the woman no matter the littlest contact.

Grabbing an arm? Climbing through a window? If anything tresspassing if there is a restraining order, but if he owns the place and there is no order, then I guess the only thing the wife can go by is abuse or assault. Cops will arrest on complaints or if the other feel threatened, but it means no guilt. Saying sorry for a situation is not guilt either.

"I call that a grey area of domestic violence. If he held on for a prolonged period of time and/or caused visible bruising, then I could see how it could be domestic violence. But if he just grabbed her wrist and then let go, that seems like a case of domestic violence laws going overboard."

@Strangerland. I agree with you that the law is vague and that's a big problem. I read a report that said domestic violence in lesbian relationships is going to be the next big bane for law enforcement. Like you wrote, the law often goes overboard when the suspect is a man but convictions for women who are violent towards their husbands/boyfriends are nearly non-existant. When women start beating up their wives/girlriends, domestic violence will finally have to be clearly defined.

He is not celebrity in Florida. As for other celebrities, US Courts tend to be harsh on them. Check Patty Hearst etc cases, Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson, etc. He has to face Florida Court, not in other states. Notorious and strange Floria Courts. Each state has own domestic violence codes. I would';t assume Florida Court procedures with other states. He is lucky in Florida. Some cities, cops are trained shoot and ask later. Domestic violence in gays and lesbians are already treated as violence everywhere in U/SA. Remind you, he was charged in Florida State in USA. not in other countries.