China Arrests Right-Wing Japanese Politician

[t_co]

China Arrests Right-Wing Japanese Politician | The Diplomat

A local Japanese politician known for his hardline views on sovereignty issues has been arrested in China while traveling in the country.

Takuma Sakuragi, a member of the Inazawa Municipal Assembly in Aichi prefecture, was arrested in China for allegedly carrying 3.3 kilograms of illegal stimulant drugs, local press reported over the weekend, citing an announcement from the Japanese Foreign Ministry and Inazawa government. China's Foreign Ministry also confirmed that Sakuragi is in custody.

The arrest took place at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangdong Province late last month but was only reported on in recent days. Sakuragi, who is 70 years old, was arrested by Chinese customs while trying to return to China. The illegal drugs, the exact nature of which haven't been reported, were allegedly found in his suitcase. Sakuragi said he was in China conducting business for a trade company he runs.

Sources close to the local government told The Japan Times that Sakuragi had met with a Nigerian national while in China, apparently a business associate. According to the report, the Nigerian business man had given the Japanese politician the suitcase, which had contained the drugs.

Others take a different view of the case. South China Morning Post highlighted a Japanese-language news article that quoted a longtime associate of Sakuragi speculating that the case might have a political angle to it. Kenji Sasaki, a longtime associate, told Japanese media that Sakuragi has well-known hardline views on Japan's territorial disputes with China and South Korea.

""I am very surprised (at the arrest). I can't believe that he had stimulants," Sasaki told local media.

Elsewhere he said ""There might be some political angle to this case."

China and Japan are locked in a dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands since Tokyo nationalized some of the isles. As part of this dispute Beijing has stepped up its pressure on individuals living in Japan, including a Chinese professor who teaches in Japan and is currently being detained by Chinese authorities.

Sakuragi is a five-time local assemblyman who was first elected in 1995.

His arrest could be deadly serious as China, like many Asian nations, has drug laws that are extremely harsh, at least compared to many other parts of the world. According to numerous news reports, possession of over 50 grams of stimulants in China carries a possible death sentence. Sakuragi was carrying six and a half times that amount.

Although Beijing doesn't release exact numbers, it is widely suspected of putting more people to death each year than the rest of the world combined. The number of people it executes is believed to be treading downwards.

China has also not been shy about executing foreign nationals in enforcing its drug laws. Indeed, China executed four Japanese nationals in 2010 on drug smuggling charges. One of the men, 65, was executed for trying to smuggle 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine out of China in 2006.

Beijing also executes African and Southeast Asian citizens fairly regularly on drug charges, and in 2010 put a British citizen to death over the strong objections of the U.K. government.

Japanese officials have confirmed that Chinese authorities plan to charge the man.

"At present, the local authorities are going through legal procedures to put him on trial," a Japanese official said, according to local media reports.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Sakuragi, who is 70 years old, was arrested by Chinese customs while trying to return to China. The illegal drugs, the exact nature of which haven't been reported, were allegedly found in his suitcase.

I can only imagine. xxxxx xxxxx?

Mod: Even if you meant rhetorically, please do not ask such questions.

 

[drkrn]

definitely a made up.reminds me a movie undisputed 2.wish the jap comes out winning hands down

 

[W.G.Ewald]

I believe it was a set-up but Takuma-san may have been careless even to go to China in the first place.

He must know how insidious the China government must be.

 

[ice berg]

I believe it was a set-up but Takuma-san may have been careless even to go to China in the first place.

He must know how insidious the China government must be.

You saying he was careless and stupid? A bad combination then.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

You saying he was careless and stupid? A bad combination then.

Not to mention he accepted, without inspection, the suitcase from the Nigerian.

And being a municipal office-holder in Japan will not get him immunity.

 

[asianobserve]

It would be a walk in the park to defend Mr. Sakuragi. But then again its China...

 

[t_co]

It would be a walk in the park to defend Mr. Sakuragi. But then again its China...

How would it be a walk in the park?

 

[t_co]

Not to mention he accepted, without inspection, the suitcase from the Nigerian.

How do you know he accepted the suitcase without inspection?

And being a municipal office-holder in Japan will not get him immunity.

You are correct. Unfortunately, a suitcase is not a diplomatic bag, and said individual does not have diplomatic immunity.

 

[kseeker]

You are correct. Unfortunately, a suitcase is not a diplomatic bag, and said individual does not have diplomatic immunity.

What is diplomatic bag ? hearing that term for first time ! Now, please don't say, google it

 

[t_co]

What is diplomatic bag ? hearing that term for first time ! Now, please don't say, google it

Diplomatic bag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[kseeker]

Diplomatic bag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thank you

You know, I was under impression that, diplomatic bag is nothing but a bag used to carry bribe money

 

[asianobserve]

You saying he was careless and stupid? A bad combination then.

Because only the most idiot person in the World will knowingly bring through Chinese airport security that much illegal/prohibited drugs in a suit case. He might as well have brought it in a transparent plastic bag with a label 3.3 kgs. stimulant drugs! And he is not just any ordinary person in China, he is one of China's enemy No.1!

 

[t_co]

Because only the most idiot person in the World will knowingly bring through Chinese airport security that much illegal/prohibited drugs in a suit case. He might as well have brought it in a transparent plastic bag with a label 3.3 kgs. stimulant drugs! And he is not just any ordinary person in China, he is one of China's enemy No.1!

Actually, people have done dumber and stranger things before to satisfy their personal drug habits:

No Cookies | The Courier-Mail

The bizarre death of renowned real estate lawyer Mark L. Bronson has sparked an investigation by Queensland police and the State Coroner.

Mr Bronson, from the US but based in Japan, is named as one of the world's leading lawyers by the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers.

He is listed in the Top 500 lawyers in Chambers Global legal "go-to guide".

He arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday, November 21, on a 7am Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo, where he lived with his wife and children.

It is understood Mr Bronson, 44, had travelled to Australia to visit a friend.

But he attracted the attention of a sniffer dog on a routine patrol with its Customs handler.

Sources said Mr Bronson was directed to a baggage examination area, where an ion drug scan over his luggage indicated a positive test for cocaine.

The tests are used as an early indication of contact with drugs and are not always accurate, law enforcement sources told The Sunday Mail.

While speaking with officers, Mr Bronson had a seizure and vomited as he collapsed on the floor.

Shocked Customs officials provided first aid before rushing him to the Royal Brisbane Hospital. He died several hours later.

A scan revealed he had no drugs concealed on his body.

It is understood Customs officers also scanned Mr Bronson's vomit, which allegedly returned another positive result for cocaine.

Mr Bronson is suspected to have regurgitated some plastic, which has been taken for forensic testing.

A Customs spokesman said CCTV footage of the incident will be passed on to the Coroner.

State Coroner Michael Barnes said investigations were continuing, and a cause of death had not yet been determined.

"Depending on the results of the autopsy and other inquiries, we will, in consultation with the family, determine whether an inquest should be held," he said.

Mr Bronson, who was born in Colorado, graduated from the Stanford Law School in 1989. He had been the editor of the prestigious university's Stanford Environmental Law Journal.

For the past seven years Mr Bronson worked with the prominent international corporate law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates.

The company's website says Mr Bronson was an internationally recognised real estate and investment management partner.

A memorial service will be held in Tokyo next Sunday.

Mark Bronson was a superlawyer in Tokyo, who ran Asia-Pac and Japan real estate practices for one of the world's best law firms. He also had a coke habit, and had to supply himself for 2 weeks in Australia and Singapore since he was away from his usual Tokyo dealer (and they execute dealers in Singapore). So he decided to swallow 2 weeks' worth of a daily cocaine supply in plastic baggies and pick them back up once they exited his rear end. Unfortunately, the baggies began dissolving in his stomach, creating a massive overdose. Mark died at 44.

 

[asianobserve]

He swallowed the pack of cocaine so that it will not be found by airport security. This is a desperate measure by a person who was aware that he was carrying an illegal substance and who also knew that that he cannot escape airport security screening. Maybe initially he put the plastic in his mouth without any intention of swallowing it. But since he needs to communicate with airport security after traces of cocaine was found on his bag, he was forced to swallow the pack of cocaine. Unfortunately for him, the plastic pack ripped in his gut spilling the cocaine straight into his system.

This is not the case of the Japanese man. This Japanese guy obviously was not aware that he was carrying 3.3 kgs of stimulants in his suit case through a high tech airport security of the country that he is not welcome. Of course all the facts cannot be appreciated from reading the above article alone, I am basing my opinion on the most probable chain of events. Otherwise, the guy is crazy and criminally exempted.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

How do you know he accepted the suitcase without inspection?

I don't know it, but that must be his story when he goes to trial.

I don't know he is being framed by the Chinese, but I would put the probability at 95%.

Another piece of information relevant to the case:

Although Beijing doesn't release exact numbers, it is widely suspected of putting more people to death each year than the rest of the world combined.

China Arrests Right-Wing Japanese Politician | The Diplomat

 

[amoy]

am I correct according to Chinese law holding over 50g cocaine is subj to capital punishment? previously a Brit drug dealer was executed despite pleas.

right wing （the amusing subject）, west wing "¦ all beating around the bush.

Sent from my 5910 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ray]

What will be the consequence if they execute this Japanese?

I think it will play into Abe's plan to militarise Japan since it will give rise to Japan Shintoism and militarism, which will be dangerous for all concerned, and not only China.

Who knows that this man maybe Abe's Kamikaze chap wherein he will sacrifice himself so that the Real Sun rises again in the East!

 

[W.G.Ewald]

There is nothing further in the news of Takuma Sakuragi in the past several days. Perhaps some negotiations are going on.

 

[t_co]

What will be the consequence if they execute this Japanese?

I think it will play into Abe's plan to militarise Japan since it will give rise to Japan Shintoism and militarism, which will be dangerous for all concerned, and not only China.

Who knows that this man maybe Abe's Kamikaze chap wherein he will sacrifice himself so that the Real Sun rises again in the East!

If Abe is really banking on this case to earn right-wingers sympathy in Japan, his PR advisor should be fired. The guy wasn't arrested for anything directly political - he had 3 kilos of controlled substances on him...