Acquitted death row inmate seeks 217 million yen from government
The world's longest-serving death row inmate who has been acquitted in the 1966 murder of a family of four in Shizuoka Prefecture is seeking 217 million yen, or about 1.4 million dollars, in compensation from the government for the time he spent in prison.
Lawyers for Hakamada Iwao said the claim was filed on January 29 with the Shizuoka District Court based on the criminal compensation law.
The law stipulates that damages for those acquitted after being held in a criminal case can seek from 1,000 yen to 12,500 yen per day of detention.
Hakamada was detained for a total of 47 years and 10 months.
The lawyers said he is requesting the maximum amount as the extent of his physical and mental suffering from being exposed to the fear of the death penalty is immeasurable.
Last year, the court acquitted the 88-year-old man in a retrial, recognizing that some evidence initially used against him were fabricated by investigators.