Verdict for Yaakov Yosef in Japan Set for May 16

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japan-ben-shachar-lawyersToday, closing arguments were heard at the Tokyo High Court in the appeals case of Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel, one of the three bochurim arrested on April 3, 2008, in Japan for carrying drugs in their suitcases.

The only juvenile of the three bochurim arrested two years ago in Japan was recently released from an Israeli jail to where he was extradited. Yidden around the world continue to plead for mercy for the older two bochurim who, since they were older than age 18 upon their arrival in Japan, are facing a much harsher and lengthier sentence, with forced labor.

Yaakov Yosef received a six-year prison sentence from Judge Hikosaka Takanori on March 24 of last year.

In the trial of Yoel Zev ben Mirel Risa Chava, Judge Masanori Hodoko – who had replaced Judge Hiroshi Furuta – has agreed to incorporate the trial records of Ben-Shachar’s testimony at Yaakov Yosef’s appeal into Yoel Zev’s case. Closinjg arguments in that case are set for April 5.

All are asked to continue davening for Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel and Yoel Zev ben Mirel Risa Chava and learning Torah in their zechus.

Rabbi Meilech Bindinger shared a firsthand account of today’s activities with Matzav.com:

Aron Nezri and I arrived at 9.30 this morning at Tokyo Narita airport after a short but inconvenient stop over in Seoul, Korea.

We immediately went to Chiba Detention Centre where we visited Yoel Zev Ben Mirel Risseh Chaveh.

The visit was a short but well appreciated 20 minutes; the maximum allowed by the prison authority.

Sitting in on the meeting was a Japanese interpreter and a prison official who annotated the discussion.

During the conversation Yoel Zev commented: “I sent the Eibershter mishloach monos this Purim. I gave the Eibershter my tears, as the Heiliger Ruzhiner ztk”l did when in prison.

Yoel Zev added, “I asked in return that the Eibershter should me mishloach monos by sending us moshiach tzidkeinu.Yoel Zev described the fear when he experienced the powerful earthquake on March 11.

Before we left we sang together and bid farewell.

We then travelled to Tokyo, and met the Defense attorneys at the Tokyo High Court.

After a brief meeting, the lawyers met with the judges at a behind doors session.

At 1.30 pm the court hearing began. The session was the closing arguments for the Appeal trial of Yakov Yosef Ben Reizel.

In attendance were defence attorneys Messrs Goto, Takano, Ozawa, Honda, Uno and Masaki. The father of Yakov Yosef as well as Rabbi Binyamin Edery, Chabad Shliach of Japan were present at the court.

Tafter the judges entered the chamber, and the customary bows done with, the hearing began with the court appointed interpreter explaining in Hebrew to Yakov Yosef that as per the Defense teams request, the word-for-word translation into Hebrew had been waived. This simplifies the procedure and saves much time.
The interpreter however did give intermittent brief explanations of the procedure when prompted by the presiding judge.

Mr. Goto presented to the court the very recent and shocking evidence that casts suspicion on the authenticity of documents submitted just last week to the court by Ms Suzuki.

Although these revealing documents were not formally adopted by the court since they were procured after the deadline of submitting new evidence, nevertheless they were brought to the attention of the judges, and served their duty in majorly discrediting the testimony of Ms Suzuki.

Mr Honda and Mr Ozawa later took the stand, summarising to the court all the defence arguments based on the evidential material procured during the appeal procedure.

Mr. Takano later took the stand, elaborating on the validity of the polygraph results, and condemning the under handed manner in which Ms Suzuki has tried to down play its relevance.

The court adjourned after setting the verdict date for 16th May at 2.30 pm.

After the hearing concluded, we visited Yakov Yosef at a holding cell below the court house.

Yakov Yosef was in good spirits. He related how during the earthquake on erev Shabbos March 11, the entire detention centre shook like a boat. The initial shocks and the subsequent powerful aftershocks lasted up to 2 hours.

“The entire prison was in a frenzy. Screams could be heard from all the cells. Prison staff donned protective headgear and immediately fled the building to safety. I felt like Yonah on the boat. The prison building shook violently like a boat during a gale force storm on high seas.

“Yakov Yosef added: “The gemara in Berochos daf 59 tells us, that when Jewish children are held in captivity, Hashem kaveyochol drops two tears into the ocean thereby causing an earthquake. This equates to the tsunami Japan have experienced.”

Yakov Yosef expounded on this, citing the Mahrsho in Maseches Chagiga on the issue of Bechirah klapei Shmayoh.

After meeting Yakov Yosef, we met with the Defense attorneys of Yoel Zev, Messrs Miyake, Nakamura, and Takano.

Final and finer details of the closing arguments scheduled for May 12th were discussed.

As far as the situation on the ground in Japan post the 11 March earthquakes, tsunami, heightened radiation levels and nuclear reactor meltdown scare: Little is evident in Tokyo itself.

One noticeable change is the strict disciplined energy-saving efforts. Due to the shut down of six nuclear reactors, on which Japan was heavily dependent. Both in the airport and court house all lighting was compromised to 50% of the usual lighting.

Please continue to davven for the Bochurim. May they be zoche to be reunited with their families speedily.

Regards,
Meilech Bindinger, Tokyo

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


9 COMMENTS

  1. Tears filled my eyes when reading the tefillos of Yoel Zev — May Hashem help me reach such a madrego of emuna & bitachon and Ahavas Hashem.

    Please Hashem send a Yeshua for these bochurim!! Please Hashem bring them home before Pesach.

  2. The Chafeitz Chaim is quoted as saying that an empire can fall because of a single injustice. They simply failed to learn their lesson when their economy became the hardest hit from the recession two years ago (particularly from the car industry). We know that Hashem starts retribution with one’s property. Should they fail to heed, then retribution comes in physical form… When will they ever learn???

  3. So Chaim is in Hashem’s head and knows that this case is the reason Japan has been having so many problems. Really? The Japanese have done nothing wrong so far. We’ll see what happens. They take these things seriously, even when it isn’t a Jew!

  4. if this is hashems message to the japs to do teshuva. they why didnt hashem simply not allow these bochurim to be caught up in this whole mess in the first please

  5. BS”D

    Chazal teach us that everything that happens in the world is being done for the sake of the Jews. Ultimately it is a message for US THE JEWS to do teshuva – don’t expect the Japanese to do teshuva in our place. The Rambam says that it is a midda of cruelty to just look the other way and attribute current happenings to “chance occurance”.

    “The Japanese have done nothing wrong so far?” Did I hear you correctly? Do you have any idea what SUBHUMAN CONDITIONS they impose on their prison inmates? Do you know that when a family member of one of these bochurim came to visit him they would not even allow him (the inmate) to look in his direction? Have you any idea what religious-type devotion the Japanese citizens have towards their government?

    If time and space would only allow – I could tell you an “awesome” story printed in in “Haeida” newsletter here in E. Israel two years ago that would enable you to catch just a glimpse reflecting how this tragedy is being viewed in Shamayim. (But then again, – anyone who wishes to will simply claim that it’s all “bubba maises”. Regarding the above-quoted Rambam; there must always be the free will for those who wish “not to be imposed upon” to express their doubts, or at least to claim that “this case is different”.)

    Take a simple look at what unrest (both naturally, politically and economically) is going on now throughout the world. Blame it all on blind chance?! It’s time that we all wake up to reality!!

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