Japanese man acquitted after nearly 50 years on death row receives Rs 12.5 Crore or $1,45 million compensation

New Delhi, Mar 30: Iwao Hakamata, a Japanese man who spent 47 years on death row before being acquitted of murder, is set to receive 217 million yen or $1.45 million or 12.5 Crore Indian rupees in what his lawyers say is the largest-ever compensation payout in a Japanese criminal case, reports BBC in its article.

The court decision announced last Monday recognises the endless suffering he endured during his wrongful incarceration. Mr. Hakamata, now 89, was convicted in 1968 for the murder of his employer, the employer’s wife, and their two children.

He was sentenced to death, but after decades of legal battles, a retrial last year resulted in his acquittal. Lawyers fighting his case demanded the highest possible compensation, arguing that the nearly half-century in detention severely affected his mental and physical health. Judge Kunii Koshi agreed, stating that Mr. Hakamata had experienced "extremely severe" suffering. The Japanese government will provide the financial compensation, with local media widely reporting it as the highest payout for a wrongful conviction in the country’s history. Mr. Hakamata’s case is considered one of Japan’s most protracted and controversial legal sagas. He was first granted a rare retrial and released from prison in 2014 on the benefit of the doubt that investigators may have fabricated evidence leading to his conviction. Last September, a court in Shizuoka, a city on Japan’s southern coast, delivered his formal acquittal. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the courthouse, cheering "banzai"—a traditional expression of victory.

Due to his deteriorated mental state, Mr. Hakamata was unable to attend the hearing. Since his release, he has been under the care of his 91-year-old sister, Hideko, who had campaigned tirelessly for decades to clear his name. The case dates back to 1966 when Mr. Hakamata worked at a miso processing plant in Shizuoka. His employer and family were found stabbed to death before their home was set on fire. Authorities accused him of committing the murders and stealing 200,000 yen. Although he initially denied the charges, he later confessed under duress after prolonged interrogations lasting up to 12 hours a day.

He later recanted, alleging that his confession was coerced through beatings and intimidation. Lawyers fighting the case for Hakamata’ challenged the conviction, citing DNA evidence that did not match his and raising concerns that key evidence had been tampered with. While he was granted a retrial in 2014, the lengthy legal process delayed its conclusion until last year.