In Japan, anger over ‘outrageously light’ sentence for ex-lawmaker who raped 12-year-old girl

A Japanese court has triggered a furious public outcry by giving a former politician a suspended prison term for raping a 12-year-old girl, a decision observers have said reflects the country’s prejudices against young victims of sexual violence.

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Tamotsu Shiiki, 58, was found guilty on Monday at the Tokyo District Court of nonconsensual sexual intercourse with the girl – who he had agreed to pay for sex – at a karaoke bar in Tokyo’s Kabukicho nightlife district in August.

Judge Chikako Murata told Shiiki that he had committed a “vile” crime, adding that he had “taken advantage of the victim’s immaturity and the physical and mental impact cannot be ignored”.

Nevertheless, the judge told the former two-term representative of the Japan Restoration Party in the Diet that as he had apologised, promised not to reoffend and paid compensation, a three-year prison sentence, suspended for five years, was “appropriate”.

The Tokyo District Court. Photo: AFP
The Tokyo District Court. Photo: AFP

“This is an outrageously light sentence for rape, particularly as the girl was so young,” said Sumie Kawakami, a lecturer at Yamanashi Gakuin University and author of a book on gender issues.

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