Cult chemist's death sentence upheld | 日本のニュースを英語で読むならジャパンタイムズウィークリー


	UPDATE: Saturday, June 12, 2010 The Japan Times Weekly 2006年8月26日号（バックナンバー）

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Cult chemist's death sentence upheld

The Tokyo High Court on Aug. 18 turned down the appeal filed by Masami Tsuchiya, 41, a court spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity, citing court policy.

Masami Tsuchiya, who Tokyo High Court judge called the center of the Aum Shinrikyo cult's crimes including the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995

Tsuchiya in January 2004 became the 11th member of the Aum Shinrikyo cult to be sentenced to death for the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995.

Prosecutors at the time said Tsuchiya's responsibility in the killings was second only to that of the group's guru, Shoko Asahara.

That view was backed by Yu Shiraki, the presiding judge in the Aug. 18 appeal hearing.

"The Aum-related crimes, such as the sarin gas attack, could not have taken place without him. He was at the center of the crimes," Shiraki was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

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