To Whom It May Concern, I am the legal representative of X, and write this letter on his behalf.
June 12th at around 4 p.m. my client was taken to the Nishinari police department. There the detectives bellowed at him: "Hey asshole! Aren't you a scumbag!" and then struck him with a 3cm paper binder over the head. He was then made to sit in a chair, choked around the neck and then thrown to the floor. Further my client was made to sit prostrate as his cheeks and head were slapped by the detectives until he lost consciousness. Upon which he was revised with a nasal spray. This was repeated three times. Subsequently the detectives wrapped string around his neck as his ankles were grabbed and he was strung up upside down on his shoulders.
As a result of this violence, my client was injured from blows all over his body, sprained his neck, received contusions on his throat in more than eight places and received hospital care for over 10 days. This violence was perpetrated by four detectives and constitutes abuse as defined in the Japanese Public Employee Judicial Law Article 195 Section 1. We expect harsh penalties to be doled out to these officers.
Additionally, our client was visited subsequently at his apartment on June 25th at 4 p.m. by two officers from the Nishinari police department (a woman and a man) who not only intruded into his apartment but threatened him that if he didn't drop his claims of abuse that "if the investigation continues as it had you'll be imprisoned for perjury" and "you'd be in a tough position if your welfare got cut wouldn't you?". What's more, these officers had obtained information from the hospital which my client visited to treat an ongoing sickness as well as the hospital which had documented my client's injuries. The officers would not leave when my client told them to do so repeatedly, which is a crime under Japanese law.
My client is seeking damages from your department via a state compensation lawsuit. Your activity against my client not only violates his right to trial, but also constitutes an organized crime by public officials which is a serious breach of human rights to which I protest strongly. If you have any further communications for my client, please pass it through my office.
Hirotsu Endou, Attorney at Law
Related pages:
In the Shadow of G8: Repression and Revolt in Japan
Comrade Y_ arrested for attacking police in Kamagasaki riot
Update from ABC Osaka about anarchist Tabi Rounin
Update:
There was another demonstration against police violence the other day (first week in August .ed), over 600 people straight through Naniwa and down into Nishinari. Late at night on a Friday. Tons of big old construction workers chanting against the police. Strong demo. Flyers were handed out with info on what happened to the guy tortured to everyone.