A former member of Waseda University's sumo club, who is accused of violating the Cannabis Control Act for asking an acquaintance in Fukuoka Prefecture to send marijuana to him and then attempting to receive it, admitted to the charges at his first trial on the 23rd. During questioning, the defendant revealed that he had forced other students in the dormitory to use marijuana.
In July of last year, defendant Yoji Sonoda (20), a third-year student at Waseda University who was a member of the sumo club, called an acquaintance living in Fukuoka Prefecture to request that he send cannabis, and he received a package containing approximately 1.5 grams of cannabis. He is charged with violating the Cannabis Control Act for attempting to prepare and receive the item.
At the first trial held on the 23rd at the Fukuoka District Court, the former member acknowledged the charges against him, saying, ``There is no doubt about it.''
The prosecutor's office pointed out in their opening statement, ``The defendant started using marijuana in December of last year at the recommendation of an acquaintance.He not only used it himself, but also shared it with his juniors in the same club.''
After this, the prosecutor asked the defendant, ``Have you ever made other students in your university dormitory use marijuana?'' To which the former club member answered, ``Yes, I have.'' .
Prosecutors then demanded a 10-month prison sentence, stating that the act was ``a serious act that poses a high risk of disseminating marijuana within the university.''
On the other hand, the defense requested a suspended sentence, saying, ``He was given the marijuana for his own use, so he was passive and not malicious.He has repented and declared his intention to rehabilitate.''
The verdict is scheduled to be handed down on the 30th of this month.