Idubor, the lack of a speedy trial, imprisonment without evidence, and how you can help
Readers of Debito.org will be familiar with the case of Mr. Osayuwamen Idubor.
For those who are not familiar with it, here’s the nutshell version:
On January 22, 2007, Mr. Idubor, proprietor of Big Ys Cafe in Yokohama, was arrested on charges of raping a woman at his bar on Novermber 1, 2006. (Or, rather, “semi-raping” - a legal distinction meaning that the victim was unconscious or otherwise incapacitated at the time of the incident. Mr. Idubor’s accuser claims to have been severely inebriated at the time.)
At least two witnesses say Idubor was never alone with his accuser in the bar and saw nothing of which he is accused. His accuser has given erratic and inconsistent testimony, with some key claims being disproven. Worst of all, there is no physical evidence, whatsoever, that a rape took place, much less that Mr. Idubor is guilty of such a crime.
Mr. Idubor has been imprisoned since his arrest, the court denying him bail based on his Nigerian citizenship, which, they say, makes him a high flight risk.
In addition, he has a spreading and steadily worsening rash on his scalp and is bleeding from the ear. As in the Valentine case, he is not receiving adequate medical attention.
Those even glancingly familiar with the Japanese criminal justice system will be aware that judges unconditionally support prosecutors, often giving prosecutors exactly what they ask for. With exceedingly few exceptions, defendants in criminal trials are found guilty.
One of the few ways to get any semblance of a fair trial is to make a case as high-profile as possible, thus putting public pressure on the judges.
How can you help?
Michael H. Fox of Hyogo University, who runs the Japan Institute for Wrongful Arrests and Convictions, makes the following suggestions:
1) Start a fax campaign to Yokohama Prosecutor’s Office that Idubor be released on bail
2) An e-mail campaign is also possible. After doing some surfing, I discovered that Yokohama Kensatsucho has a home page that invites members of the public to register as court watchers to complement the saibanin seido slated to begin in May of ‘09And an e-mail is listed, very, very unusual for the forces of law and order! And good for us.
3) Contact the Kokumin Kyuuenkai and get help for supporting the case.
4) Publicize the case ourselves.
5) Offer support to the accused and his wife.
6) Get people to attend court. (The next hearing is on October 11, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Yokohama District Court.)
If you’d like to accompany Mrs. Idubor on one of her many visits to her husband, please e-mail Arudou Debito at debito@debito.org and title yor message “Idubor Visit Request.”
The loss of the main breadwinner plus mounting legal fees has put quite a bit of pecuniary strain on the Idubor family. Mrs. Idubor is running Big Ys Cafe for the time being. Go there, buy a drink or three, then buy a couple of rounds for the house.
The address:
横浜市中区山下町106-3 ラポート元町104号
Yokohama-shi Naka-ku
Yamashita-cho 106-3
Laport Motomachi 104
Tel. 045-662-2261
If you’re feeling generous and would like to contribute to Mr. Idubor’s legal defense, please comment below and tell us you’re interested, or contact TPR or Debito Arudou, and we’ll tell you what to do.
Please do what you can. There, but for the grace. . .
Thanks.
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