FUKUOKA (TR) – The Kokura Branch of the Fukuoka District Court has sentenced a 43-year-old construction worker to two years and six months in prison for molesting an 8-year-old elementary school girl and threatening her life to keep her quiet, reports RKB Mainichi Broadcasting (Sep. 23).
Takenori Sakurai was found guilty of targeting the young girl, a complete stranger, this past April. According to the ruling, Sakurai waited for an opportunity when the child was alone, took her to the crime scene, removed her pants and underwear, and touched her lower body.
To prevent the girl from reporting the assault, Sakurai threatened her, stating, “I’ll kill you if you tell anyone.”
“Escape reality”
During the trial, Sakurai claimed he committed the crime to “escape reality” and alleviate stress stemming from his work and personal life.
Prosecutors sought a three-year prison term, condemning the motive as “supremely selfish.” They emphasized the immense terror and psychological trauma inflicted on the young victim, arguing that Sakurai’s sexual preference for minors and his belief that he could avoid detection by silencing a child meant the likelihood of him reoffending was extremely high.
The defense had pleaded for a lighter sentence, noting that Sakurai had admitted to the charges and shown remorse. They also pointed out that his mother had testified and promised to supervise him, and that Sakurai was considering attending a support program to prevent sex crimes.
“Similar offenses”
However, Presiding Judge Ryo Ando dismissed the plea for leniency, highlighting Sakurai’s disturbing criminal history.
“The defendant previously served a relatively long sentence of four years in prison for similar offenses against multiple victims,” judge Ando noted during the August 18 ruling. “Despite being in a position where he should have been particularly cautious about reoffending, he committed this crime, showing a significant decline in his moral compass regarding sex crimes.”
The judge condemned Sakurai’s actions as malicious and his motive as completely self-centered, stating there was absolutely no room for sympathy. Concluding that a custodial sentence was necessary, the court handed down a 30-month prison term.
