[Updating] “I’m sorry for the prosecution” Prosecutor questions the defendant “With a simple sense of justice in my heart”

The 6th trial of prosecutor Daisuke Tabuchi (54), currently the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, who was charged with assaulting and abusing a special public servant for yelling, ``I don't care for the prosecution,'' during an interrogation by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Department, began at 10 a.m. on the 16th at the Osaka District Court. On this day, the defendant will be questioned for the first time. What will the defendant say when he takes the stand as an active prosecutor? I will tell you about the main exchanges.

10:00 Court opening

The presiding judge announced the opening of the trial, and the examination of evidence from the previous trial was resumed.

10:20 “I want the record to show that I acknowledged the facts and decided to speak out.”

Audio from a video recording of Tabuchi interrogating a man who was the manager of a real estate company was played in court.

Defendant Tabuchi calmly told the man, ``I want the record to show that I have acknowledged the facts and decided to speak out.I want to set that tone,'' and ``I don't think the issues have been completely resolved, but I want to work together and work together to resolve them.''

11:15 Defendant's questioning begins

The questioning of the defendant began. The defense attorney will ask questions and begin by checking your background.

Defense attorney: “Why did you choose to take the bar exam?”

Defendant: ``When I was in high school, I consulted my father about my career path, and he told me, ``If you're into the liberal arts, why not aim to become a lawyer?'' That's when I decided to apply.''

Defense attorney: “Why did you choose to become a prosecutor?”

Defendant: ``I think the big thing was that I was able to work with a simple sense of justice, without being influenced by money or profit and loss accounts.''

11:25 The credo of interrogation is “to respect the other person and listen to what they have to say”

Defense attorney: “How many people have you interrogated since becoming a prosecutor?”

Defendant: ``I don't remember the exact number, but I think we have interrogated several hundred suspects and witnesses.''

Defense attorney: “What is an interrogation?”

Defendant: ``It's an investigation activity that elicits statements that clarify the facts from the person you want to interrogate. That's what I thought.''

Defense attorney: “Do you have any beliefs when conducting interrogations?”

Defendant: ``There are differences in the positions of the prosecutor and the suspect, but try to treat the other person as the same person as possible, respect the other person, and listen carefully to what the other person has to say. Get to know the person of the other person well.I was conscious of paying attention to these things.''

12:00 “If you continue to make unreasonable statements, you will be severely pursued.”

He asked about the status of the investigation into the embezzlement case.

Defense attorney: “When did you become seriously involved in the case (investigation)?”

Defendant: “Around late November 2019”

Defense attorney: “Did (the man who was the manager of a real estate company) understand the flow of loans, etc., and did you recognize him as an important person?”

Defendant: “Yes.”

Defense attorney: “Did you conduct any voluntary interrogation (before the man was arrested)?”

Defendant: “It happened about twice. It was a denial.”

Defense attorney: “Did you conduct a rigorous investigation through a voluntary investigation?”

Defendant: ``I didn't pursue him as harshly as I thought he would. There wasn't enough evidence yet.I carefully listened to the man's excuses, examined their consistency with the evidence and their rationality, and if the man continued to make unreasonable statements, I was thinking of showing him the evidence and, depending on the situation, pursuing him harshly.''

12:15 Adjournment

The trial was adjourned.

13:40 Restart

After a break, the trial resumed.