By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Iwao Hakamada, a man who spent over 40 years on death row in Japan for a crime he did not commit, has been awarded $1.4 million in compensation.
The Shizuoka District Court made the decision on March 25, 2025, granting him a total of 217,362,500 yen (approximately $1.4 million), calculated at 12,500 yen ($83) per day for his wrongful detention.
Hakamada, now 89, was exonerated in 2024 after a relentless campaign led by his sister and supporters. He had been convicted in 1966 for a quadruple murder that he did not commit.
In a ruling issued in September 2024, the court determined that police had tampered with evidence, leading to Hakamada’s wrongful conviction.
“The claimant shall be granted 217,362,500 yen,” a court spokesman confirmed at the time.
His legal team, however, pointed out that while the compensation is significant, it does not reflect the mental and emotional toll Hakamada endured.
“The years of detention and the constant threat of execution left a profound impact on his mental health,” they said, describing him as having “lived in a world of fantasy” due to the trauma.
Hakamada’s case marks a significant moment in Japan’s history, as he is the fifth death row inmate to be exonerated through a retrial since World War II. Previous exonerations have followed similar patterns of wrongful convictions and judicial errors.
Despite the financial settlement, Hakamada’s supporters feel that no amount of money can undo the suffering he faced during his decades of imprisonment.
About The Author
Leave a comment