TOKYO (TR) – A court here on Friday handed actor Hiroya Shimizu, 26, a suspended prison term for the possession of marijuana at his home earlier this year.
At the Tokyo District Court, Shimizu was handed a prison term of one year, suspended for three years, reports NHK (Dec. 19).
Presiding judge Shoji Miyata said, “We found [that the defendant has an] affinity for marijuana, and that he was beginning to become addicted. His criminal responsibility is by no means light.”
Shimizu listened, occasionally nodding as Miyata read out the reasons for his verdict.
In September, Shimizu possessed approximately 0.4 grams of marijuana at his home in the capital.
“I deeply regret having betrayed the people who supported my activities,” Shimizu said at the opening of the trial on December 8. “I will never use marijuana again.”
The latter statement was a factor in the suspended term, the court said.
“He has sworn in court that he will never touch marijuana again, and considering that he has taken action such as visiting hospital and joining a self-help group while on bail, I would like to give him an opportunity to recover,” judge Miyata said.
