Japan Grants $1.4 Million to Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate

In a historic ruling, Japan has granted a record-breaking compensation of $1.4 million to Hakamada Iwao, the longest-serving death row inmate in the country's history. Hakamada was convicted in 1968 for the murder of a family of four, spending over half a century on death row before his conviction was overturned in 2014 due to lack of evidence.

The decision to award compensation comes after years of legal battles and international scrutiny over Japan's death penalty system. Hakamada's case has become a symbol of the flaws within the Japanese judicial system, particularly concerning the reliability of confessions obtained under duress.

The payout was officially announced on March 25, 2025, marking a significant moment in Japan's criminal justice history. This ruling not only provides financial relief to Hakamada, who is now 89 years old, but also sets a precedent for future cases involving wrongful convictions.

International human rights organizations have praised the decision, urging Japan to further reform its criminal justice system to prevent similar injustices. The compensation is seen as a step toward acknowledging and rectifying the mistakes of the past.

• Death Row
• Hakamada Iwao
• Japan

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