Suspect of the case, Shibuya Yasumasa. (Source: Asahi Shimbun)Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador toJapan Nguyen Quoc Cuong has urged Japan’s law enforcement agencies to soonconclude investigation into the death of a ten-year-old Vietnamese girl namedLe Thi Nhat Linh, and strengthen evidence to bring the suspect to trial.
At a meeting with Shigeki Takizaki, Director Generalof the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department under Japan’s Ministryof Foreign Affairs, on February 2, Cuong said Linh’s family is collectingsignatures at home and abroad to appeal to the Chiba prefecture court to handdown the highest penalty to the culprit.
In reply, Takizaki once again expressed his deepsympathy to Linh’s family and informed the ambassador that during a receptionfor Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane on January 30, VietnameseDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also asked theJapanese side to promptly bring the case to court.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry then had a workingsession with the Ministry of Justice on the issue. According to the JusticeMinistry, Japan’s law enforcement agencies are urgently preparing procedures inorder for the trial to take place soon in line with Japanese law.
Takizaki also further explained the judicialindependence in Japan’s Constitution, noting his hope for an early trial andthat the culprit will receive deserved punishment.
The same day, Ambassador Cuong visited Linh’s familyin Chiba Prefecture and affirmed that the Vietnamese Embassy will continue to workto protect legitimate interests of the family.
He said the embassy’s officials have kept regularcontact with Japanese law enforcement agencies to receive updated information aboutthe case and ensure citizen protection.
According to the Chiba prefecture court, the datefor the trial will be decided after the investigation process and dossierpreparations conclude, scheduled on March 5.
Under Japan’s law, the evidence collection process will last about eight monthsif the suspect admits his crime and about 12 months if he denies.
Le Anh Hao, Linh’s father, expressed his hope for anearly and fair trial to contribute to preventing similar crimes in the future.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Speakerof the House of Representatives and the President of the House of Councillorshave also extended their deep sympathies publicly to Linh’s family over herdeath.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda visited Linh’sfamily in their home province of Hung Yen.
On March 24, 2017, Linh, athird-year grader at the elementary school in Matsudo, went missing after sheleft home in Matsudo to go to school as usual.
Two days later, she was founddead without clothes at a site near a drainage ditch which is about 10-12kmfrom the school.
The police believed Linh was kidnapped rightafter leaving home at 8 am on March 24.
Besides an injury on her head and garrotemarks on her necks, Linh also had an injury on her wrist and scratches on herbody.
Japan arrested Shibuya Yasumasa, 46, a suspect inthe murder, on April 14. Chiba police made the arrest after his DNA testmatched the DNA sample found on Linh’s belongings.
Prosecutors of Japan’s Chibaprefecture on May 26 decided to prosecute Yasumasa Shibuya. -VNA
VNA
