Prosecution's sloppy trial, top district prosecutors and others ``understood the explanation that there was no problem'' Defense records - Osaka District Court

The fifth trial of Daisuke Tabuchi (54), a prosecutor accused of assaulting and abusing a special public servant, was held on the 13th at the Osaka District Court after he insulted his opponent by saying things like ``Don't mess with the prosecution'' during an interrogation by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation department. The defense read aloud the records of his three superiors, including then Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office Tadashi, and emphasized that they did not view the interrogation as a problem.

The defense read out the transcripts of the three people who were interviewed, including the designated prosecutor's attorney. Yasuhiro Tanabe, the chief public prosecutor at the time, replied, ``I was satisfied after receiving an explanation from the special investigation department and the general examination prosecutor (who checks whether the investigation is appropriate) that there was no problem.'' Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Machiko Yamamoto (same) said, ``I thought it was inappropriate and excessive, but I don't think it was a criminal act at all,'' and Special Investigations Director Hiroyuki Yamashita (same) said, ``I didn't think it was a compliment, but I don't know if it will immediately affect the arbitrariness or credibility.''

At a press conference after the court closed, defense attorney Naoya Mori explained, ``I submitted this because it is evidence of how the investigation was handled within the public prosecutor's office.'' In his opening statement at the previous trial on the 6th, he pointed out, ``None of the three, including the prosecutor, offered to confirm the interrogation that day.''