Arabic version: عائلة تسعى إلى مراجعة أممية لقضية احتجاز في اليابان

According to ABC News, the family and legal team of Aishima Shizuo are asking the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to examine whether his detention in Japan violated international law. Aishima died after spending 11 months under a detention order, before the case against him was dropped and his name cleared.

Aishima, a spray-dryer engineer at Ohkawara Kakohki, was arrested in 2020 with two other executives over alleged breaches of Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. The allegations concerned exports of spray dryers to China and South Korea. The machines were later found not capable of “internal sterilisation”, meaning they did not require special export permits.

His requests for bail were rejected. After about six months in custody, symptoms of anaemia led his son, Aishima Kazuto, to secure permission for him to see a specialist. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer and later admitted to hospital after his detention was suspended. His son said the cancer had metastasised throughout his body by then.

In 2023, the arrests and indictments were deemed illegal. Aishima’s family, the company and the two other accused people received almost $AUD1.5 million in compensation, while police and prosecutors apologised at his grave. The family has also filed legal action this year against 37 judges involved in the case.

Lawyers supporting the UN submission argue there was no proper legal basis for detention, citing Aishima’s earlier voluntary cooperation with investigators, the seizure of company materials, his age and health, and technical evidence challenging the allegations. Japan says custody is governed by strict legal requirements, reviewed by judges independent of investigators, and subject to appeal. UN working group opinions are non-binding.