In the initial trial of four police officers charged with assaulting a suspect during a search, two defendants stated they did not recognize their actions as assault.
Four officers from the Osaka Prefectural Police's Special Investigation Unit faced trial in Osaka District Court for assaulting a suspect during a search operation linked to the notorious scouting group 'Natural'. During the hearing, defendants Hirofumi Hitomi (36) and Kazunari Mizobata (34) denied the accusations, asserting they had no awareness of committing assault. In contrast, their colleagues Yuji Kansaka (42) and Takashi Suzuki (36) admitted to the charges against them.
The alleged incident occurred on July 15-16 of the previous year, when the officers were searching an office in Nishi-ku, Osaka, in connection with the investigation into the large scouting organization. Reports indicate that when they were attempting to bypass the facial recognition system on a suspect's smartphone, they physically assaulted the suspect by hitting him in the stomach and pulling his hair. Following the incident, several members of the police force involved were arrested, with two former officers already convicted last August.
In response to the scandal, which has raised questions about police conduct, the Osaka police department dismissed two officers and suspended others for their involvement. Additionally, allegations surfaced that a police sergeant misled prosecutors regarding the existence of video footage capturing the assault, leading to further scrutiny and legal action against him for obstructing justice. The case highlights ongoing issues related to police oversight and accountability in Japan.
