Statement by the Association to Free Kazuyoshi Miura

On February 22 this year, the U.S. authorities announced the arrest of a Japanese businessman, Kazuyoshi Miura while on the island of Saipan, the Domination of the United States. He was cleared in March 2003, and his acquittal was confirmed with announcement of the Supreme Court's decision in Japan. It is clear that his arrest is a reckless act that trampled the fundamental principle of prohibition against double jeopardy which is stipulated in the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Constitutions of both Japan and the U.S.
Despite legal countermeasures by his defense team such as putting a veto on his transfer, filing a complaint to invalidate the warrant of arrest and claiming habeas corpus (planning), Mr. Miura has been under illicit situations with no right of physical freedom.
On March 20 it was reported that officials of the Los Angeles Public Prosecutor's Office came to Japan to meet Japanese investigative officials involved in the Case. It is far beyond our understanding that the investigative officials of both countries, without any solemn diplomatic channel between countries, were allowed to have an informal meeting on the case in which verdict of not guilty was determined in Japan 21 years ago.

  1. Regarding this case, judgment of acquittal was decided at the Supreme Court of Japan. So Kazuyoshi Miura is innocent. No matter what excuse there may be, it could not be allowed for anyone to arrest and detain a person who was once confirmed to be acquitted. We request the judicial authorities of Saipan and California in the U.S. to immediately stop detaining Mr. Miura, release him at once and bring him back to Japan.
  2. We request the Japanese government including the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Metropolitan Police Department to maximize their efforts to take care of its citizen, that is, to free Mr. Miura and bring him back to his home country. We also call on them to respect the final decision of Japan's Supreme Court, and, as a state ruled by law, to consistently refuse a demand for bearing a part in the investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the L.A. City Police Department, even if requested.