Authorities Confess Blunder in Investigation of Ohkawara Kakohki Case
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has admitted to a serious mistake in its investigation of machinery maker, Ohkawara Kakohki Co., which led to false accusations against the company’s executives.
In March 2020, the MPD's Public Security Bureau arrested the company’s president, Masaaki Okawara, who is 76 years old, and two other executives, accusing them of illegally exporting a spray dryer suspected to be repurposed for weapons production. However, the charges were dropped by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office in July 2021, just before court proceedings began.
An internal MPD report revealed that the chain of command was dysfunctional during the investigation. Unfavorable information that could have weakened the case was withheld from senior officials, who merely rubber-stamped the procedures without proper oversight. The report stated that the bureau "lacked fundamental investigative principles," and the senior officials failed to properly supervise or ensure the investigation’s legitimacy.
MPD Superintendent-General Yuji Sakoda expressed remorse for the harm caused by the MPD's Public Security Bureau's investigation into Ohkawara Kakohki Co., admitting that it resulted in significant stress and hardship for the executives. He also apologized for the actions of the MPD's Public Security Bureau and announced that disciplinary actions would be considered against many individuals involved, including senior officials and some retired officers.
To prevent future errors, the MPD plans to establish a new office focusing on investigation guidance that will improve review procedures and ensure proper evidence handling through an independent perspective. The MPD's report was released on Thursday, August 7.
In summary, the core issues were a dysfunctional command structure, lack of transparency in sharing critical investigative information, and deficient oversight, which collectively led to wrongful arrests and false accusations against Ohkawara Kakohki executives. The MPD's Public Security Bureau's investigation into Ohkawara Kakohki Co. was not thorough or accurate, as previously stated. Two other company executives were also arrested during the MPD's investigation. The MPD's report suggests that the investigation procedures were not properly scrutinized by senior officials.
- The MPD's report suggests that there was a lack of transparency in sharing critical investigative information, akin to a policy-and-legislation oversight that was overlooked during the investigation.
- The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's (MPD) internal report revealed that the bureau's investigation into machinery maker, Ohkawara Kakohki Co., was not thorough or accurate, reminiscent of general-news stories focusing on crime-and-justice.
- Following the shocking revelations of the MPD's investigation into Ohkawara Kakohki Co., the MPD's Superintendent-General, Yuji Sakoda, announced that he would be sharing the report's findings publicly, touching upon a sensitive topic in the realm of politics.
