Remember that incident where two guys threatened a guy in a local supermarket parking lot with a knife: “Give us your weed or we’ll cut your throat?” Well, in their infinite wisdom the prosecutors have dropped this case. I saw a report about this on TV (RKK) and no explanation was given.
In Japan, the decisions that prosecutors make can be more important than those that judges make. If the prosecutors decide to pursue your case, you have a 99% chance of being found guilty. Then, in the rare instance where the judge finds you innocent, the prosecutors can appeal.
Moreover, judges publish decisions regarding why they decided as they did but prosecutors need not offer any explanation of their decisions to drop cases. So, as in this case, we are left wondering “What the ***?”
And, of course, this may lead to racial profiling. “Throw the book at that foreigner but give that Japanese guy another chance.” I don’t know how often that sort of thing happens. It’s sort of a black box. :(
– Kirk
