Anri Kawai Trial The voice of the exchange of cash provided by the former Minister of Justice was released on October 13, 18:08
At the trial of Senator Anri Kawai, who was accused of violating the Public Offices Election Act, a voice recording was played in court when a member of the Hiroshima City Council received cash from former Minister of Justice Katsuyuki Kawai.
Anri Kawai (47), a member of the House of Councilors, and his husband, former Minister of Justice Katsuyuki Kawai (57), have been acquitted of the acquisition of a violation of the Public Offices Election Act over last year's House of Councilors election.
At the trial held at the Tokyo District Court on the 13th, Hiroshima City Council member Hiroshi Kaitoku was called by witnesses and admitted that he had received a total of 500,000 yen in cash from former Minister Kawai, saying, "Veteran of seven elections. So, he was a powerful person who had served as a Prime Minister, and he didn't have the courage to refuse. "
In addition, Senator Kaitoku was recording the exchange when he received the cash, and former Minister Kawai said, "It's hard because the prefectural federation doesn't do anything. Teacher, please help me. This is my feeling." The audio was played in court.
From the afternoon, the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly member's witness cross-examination was conducted by the "off-site video link method" that connects the Hiroshima District Court and the Tokyo District Court with audio and video, and the appearance of the member was displayed on the monitor installed in the courtroom.
46 people cross-examine witnesses using "off-site video link method"
At the trial of former Minister of Justice Katsuyuki Kawai and Senator Anri, the prosecution demanded that 46 witnesses be cross-examined by the "off-site video link method" that connects the Tokyo District Court and the Hiroshima District Court with video and audio, which is unusual. It will be the number of people.
The prosecution applied for cross-examination of 139 witnesses in the trial of former Minister Kawai and Senator Anri, and asked the Hiroshima District Court to appear in 46 of them because it was difficult to appear in the Tokyo District Court due to their age and health condition. We are requesting that witnesses be cross-examined using the "off-site video link method".
It also aims to avoid moving to Tokyo to reduce the risk of older witnesses being infected with the new coronavirus.
In the court of the Tokyo District Court, a camera is installed next to the testimony stand to photograph questioners such as prosecutors and lawyers, and the witnesses who have appeared in the Hiroshima District Court are displayed on the monitor.
Witness cross-examination using the off-site video link method was introduced in the 2016 revision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and according to the Supreme Court, it was conducted 38 times nationwide in 2018 and last year.
If the 46 witness cross-examinations that the prosecution has applied for will be conducted using the off-site video link method, it will be an unusual number.
Expert "Understanding the truth is a touchstone for cross-examination of video link witnesses"
Professor Osamu Watanabe of Konan University Law School, who specializes in criminal procedure law, commented on the merits of introducing the off-site video link method, saying, "It was used daily in the private sector, both at work and at home, and only criminal trials were left behind. Given the risk of infection with the new corona virus, not only does it reduce the burden of travel for witnesses, but it also has the advantage of providing a place where people can speak freely rather than in a heavy courtroom. "
On top of that, regarding the fact that an unusual number of witnesses will be cross-examined using the off-site video link method, "whether or not the truth of the case will be clarified will be a touchstone for future witness questioning using the video link method. We are paying close attention to the critical phase of "ITization of criminal trials". "