INTERVIEW: Japan Top Prosecutor Eager to Promote Use of Plea Bargains
Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prosecutor-General Ryuji Kawahara has said in an interview with Jiji Press that he is eager to promote public prosecutors' use of a plea bargaining system. "It is the position of the prosecution, as a law-enforcement agency, to do everything possible under the current system," said Kawahara, 61, who took office Wednesday. "I hope prosecutors make use of...
Tokyo, August 14 (Jiji Press) -- Japanese Prosecutor-General Ryuji Kawahara expressed his enthusiasm for expanding the use of plea bargaining among public prosecutors during an interview with Jiji Press. As the head of the prosecution, Kawahara, who assumed office on August 13 at the age of 61, emphasized the agency's commitment to making use of every possible measure, in accordance with existing laws, to ensure societal safety and security.
Kawahara advocated for prosecutors to leverage their knowledge and expertise in implementing this approach. The plea bargaining system, which permits suspects to receive lighter sentences in exchange for providing information about other criminal activities, was introduced in June 2018 for economic crimes, drug offenses, and firearm-related cases.
So far, only seven plea deals have been disclosed. In October, the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office revealed its intention to utilize the system more aggressively for special fraud cases, targeting loosely organized, anonymous criminal groups. Kawahara stressed that ensuring societal safety and security in the face of increasingly intricate crimes necessitates the development of effective legal tools.
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