DATE=5/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232780
TITLE=JAPAN / SUBWAY ATTACK SENTENCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=THOMAS CALDWELL
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE FIRST PERSON TO BE CONVICTED OF THE RELEASE OF POISON
GAS ON TOKYO'S SUBWAY SYSTEM THREE YEARS AGO HAS BEEN SENTENCED
TO LIFE IN PRISON. FROM TOKYO, THOMAS CALDWELL HAS THE LATEST ON
THE TALE OF THE AUM SHINRI KYO SECT.
TEXT: A MAN WHO ONCE HAD A PROMISING MEDICAL CAREER WILL SPEND
THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRST
CASE OF POISON GAS USED IN AN ACT OF TERRORISM IN JAPAN.
FIFTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD IKYUO HAYASHI WAS SENTENCED BY THE TOKYO
DISTRICT COURT ON TUESDAY FOR HIS PART IN A POISON GAS ATTACK ON
THE TOKYO SUBWAY SYSTEM. TWELVE PEOPLE DIED AND SEVERAL THOUSAND
OTHERS WERE INJURED . THE FORMER DOCTOR, A TOP OFFICIAL OF THE
AUM SHINRI KYO RELIGIOUS SECT, SAYS HE WAS ACTING UNDER ORDERS
FROM THE GROUP'S LEADER WHEN HE RELEASED TOXIC GAS IN A SUBWAY
CAR DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR IN MARCH OF 1995.
SINCE HIS ARREST AND THROUGHOUT HIS TRIAL, HAYASHI HAS SHOWN
REMORSE FOR HIS CRIME. HE HAS ALSO DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM THE
RELIGIOUS SECT, AND COOPERATED WITH PROSECUTORS. THE JUDGE TOOK
ABOUT AN HOUR TO READ THE SENTENCE, AS THE FORMER DOCTOR WEPT
OPENLY.
HAYASHI AND FOUR OTHERS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF TAKING PART IN THE
GAS ATTACK, WHICH SHOOK JAPANESE SOCIETY TO ITS FOUNDATIONS, AND
TOOK AWAY TOKYO'S REPUTATION AS BEING ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN
THE WORLD. TWO GROUP MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND WILL SOON BE
TRIED; TWO OTHERS ARE STILL AT LARGE. WANTED POSTERS DISPLAYING
THEIR PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND ON ALMOST EVERY STREET CORNER IN THE
COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/TC/FC/WTW
26-May-98 5:55 AM EDT (0955 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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