Iwao Hakamada, the world’s longest-serving death row inmate, has been awarded ¥217 million (approximately US$1.45 million) in compensation after spending over 47 years imprisoned on wrongful murder charges. This landmark decision, reported by various outlets including BBC and New York Times, marks the largest payout in Japan's history for a criminal case of this nature.

At age 89, Hakamada was exonerated last year following a lengthy campaign advocated by his sister and supported by legal teams that revealed significant flaws in the original investigation, including tampering with evidence and coercion during police interrogations. The Shizuoka District Court's ruling recognized the severe mental and physical suffering Hakamada endured during his time in prison, which included a 1968 conviction that was later overturned due to DNA evidence proving his innocence.

The court outlined that Hakamada was subjected to inhumane interrogations, confessing to the crime after days of relentless questioning and mistreatment, a fact that draws considerable attention to the concerning practices within Japan’s justice system. According to his legal representatives, while the compensation is a significant acknowledgment of his suffering, it still falls short of addressing the profound emotional and psychological impact he experienced over decades of wrongful detention, with his lawyers expressing that “the country committed a crime against him,” as noted by Channel News Asia.

Hakamada's case is pivotal, not only as a testament to the potential failings of the justice system but also as a crucial example of the need for reform, echoed by many advocates for justice in Japan.

For further details, visit the source articles at South China Morning Post.