Exonerated After 48 Years: Japan’s Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate Sues Government

Iwao Hakamada, the world's longest-serving death row inmate, was acquitted in Japan after 48 years in prison for a 1966 quadruple murder he did not commit. His defense team plans to sue the government for fabricating evidence that led to his wrongful conviction and caused immense mental suffering.

Iwao Hakamada, the world's longest-serving death row inmate, has been acquitted after 48 years in prison for a 1966 quadruple murder he did not commit. Hakamada, an 88-year-old former boxer, was found not guilty last Thursday by Japan's Shizuoka District Court, which ruled that police and prosecutors had fabricated and planted evidence against him.

The court's decision marks him as the fifth death row inmate in postwar Japan to be exonerated in a retrial. With a conviction rate exceeding 99%, retrials in Japan are extraordinarily rare. Hakamada's lawyer, Hideyo Ogawa, announced that the defense team plans to file a damage suit against the government due to the severe mental suffering and life-ruining consequences caused by the fabricated evidence.

During his 48-year imprisonment, Hakamada was subjected to lengthy solitary confinement. Following his release, his mental condition has been impaired, causing skepticism despite the acquittal. His sister, Hideko Hakamada, remains dedicated to helping him adjust and comprehend his newfound freedom. This case has reignited debates on Japan's criminal justice system and calls for legal reforms to lower barriers for retrials.

(With inputs from agencies.)