OSAKA (TR) – A one-time accuser is now the accused — and he finds himself on trial.
In a trial that began at the Osaka District Court on Friday, the former Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office Chief Prosecutor appeared to plead guilty to sexual assault.
According to the indictment, Kentaro Kitagawa, 65, is alleged to have sexually assaulted an intoxicated female subordinate who was unable to resist in September 2018, reports TBS News (Oct. 25).
Six years have passed since the incident, which took place while Kitagawa was the head prosecutor. This year, the victim reported the incident to a senior prosecutor.
The Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office, which is the superior office of the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office, then took the unusual step of arresting Kitagawa.
“Ace of the Kansai Prosecutors Office
Kitagawa, who became a prosecutor in 1985, steadily followed the elite course and held key positions at the Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office, the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office and the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office. He was known as the “Ace of the Kansai Prosecutors Office.”
Kitagawa has been accused of quasi-forced sexual intercourse for sexually assaulting the intoxicated subordinate who was unable to resist his advances.
On Friday, Kitagawa admitted to the allegations and stated the following: “I admit the charges and will not contest them. I would like to sincerely apologize to the victim for the serious damage I have caused.”
He then apologized, “I am sorry for causing so much trouble to the prosecutor’s office and other related parties, and for causing a public uproar.”
“Now you’re my woman”
The details of the incident were revealed in the prosecution’s opening statement. On the day, Kitagawa and the victim had dinner with other prosecutors at a social gathering in Osaka.
The social gathering was a “celebration for the appointment of the prosecutor general” It was organized by the victim. However, the victim was so drunk that she fell on her desk and was unable to walk normally.
Kitagawa invited her to a second party, but she declined and tried to take a taxi home. Kitagawa got into the taxi and had it take her to his official residence.
When the victim sobered up, she realized she was being sexually assaulted. Even when she pleaded with Kitagawa to go home, he said, “Now you’re my woman,” and continued the sexual assault.
“I’ll treat you to meals until the statute of limitations runs out”
Even after the sexual assault, the victim had no choice but to have contact with Kitagawa for work-related reasons.
In a conversation immediately after the incident, Kitagawa said in a light-hearted tone, “I’ll treat you to meals until the statute of limitations runs out.”
“I will have no choice but to commit suicide”
After that, Kitagawa retired from his position as head prosecutor, citing “personal reasons.” He also asked the victim in writing to refrain from reporting the incident.
“If this case becomes public,” he said, “I will not be able to survive and will have no choice but to commit suicide.”
The defendant also said, “The Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office will no longer be able to do its job. It will no longer be able to function as an organization. It will become a major scandal comparable to the Osaka Incident [evidence tampering case by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Division].”
He added, “Please do this not for my sake, but for the sake of the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office to which you belong.”
Victim tearfully explains why she was unable to report the incident
After the first hearing, the female subordinate, who is currently a prosecutor, held a press conference.
When asked why she held the press conference today, she tearfully said, “The defendant admitted to the charges and agreed to them, so I decided to speak at this time. For about six years…I have been suffering for so long. Why didn’t he admit his guilt sooner? If he had admitted to his guilt sooner, I could have come forward sooner, put this experience behind me, and started a new life.”
She then spoke about why she was unable to come forward for so long. She said, “They held the prosecutor’s office and staff hostage and told me to keep quiet, and threatened me. ‘If I make it public, you will die,’ they said. So, I couldn’t come forward.”
Even though Kitagawa admitted to the allegations, her stance is unchanged. “It won’t ease my feelings for punishment,” she said.
