Niimi, 42, the cult's former "home affairs minister," was convicted of participating in the murders of 26 people, including the seven victims of the sarin attack in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, on June 27, 1994, the 12 people killed in the Tokyo subway gassing March 20, 1995, and in the Nov. 4, 1989, murders of Yokohama lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto, his wife and their 1-year-old son.

He is the only cultist to be convicted in connection with all seven murder, and mass-murder, cases in which Aum was involved.

On March 16, Niimi appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

His lawyers claim hanging is too harsh a punishment, arguing that as Asahara's most loyal disciple, Niimi had no option but to follow the guru's orders.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 25, 2006
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