Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson could face up to 15 years’ prison in Japan if convicted
Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson could face up to 15 years’ prison in Japan if convicted
Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd and co-founder of Greenpeace, has been arrested on an international warrant and is facing charges including accomplice to assault and ship trespass
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doesnt japan have a near 100% conviction rate too? they dont prosecute offences if theres a chance of not winning?
It's not 100% but it's super high and, yeah, they usually don't prosecute unless they think they have a really solid case. That said, some of that also includes confessions that some have argued are under duress (and, in the case of foreigners, people who aren't exactly sure what they're signing, though I have no idea how that's legal).
They also can hold suspects in detention without trial or hearing for months while they investigate, if they choose. It's not often discussed but it's a huge part of the pressure/duress.
This is not correct. It's 20ish days (23, I think?)
This may have changed since I learned about it in 2008, but my understanding is that they get around that rule by technically "releasing" you and "rearresting" you on suspicion of related crimes. The "rearrests" can stack.
I think it has to be another crime, but that probably still can be done. I'm not a lawyer so I'm not sure, and I hope I never have occasion to find out.
i mean "don't prosecute until they have a solid case" is one way of looking at it, the other is "the courts always side with the police"
Not sure what sort of sentence he's looking at here though.
The guy who actually boarded the ship and tried to assault the captain only got a suspended sentence. And this guy is being tried as an accomplice for that.
It doesn't sound terribly serious, tbh.
So I've also heard. But first Denmark must extradite him, which I doubt they will do.
He has a horde of followers who has quite good at internet warfare. So any action against him would be a political shit storm. Denmark is undoubtedly being pressured from all sides to release him.