Nagasaki man sentenced for multiple counts of assault against women with intellectual disabilities

By Barrier Free Japan with extracts translated The Nagasaki Shimbun via Kyodo

July 18 2020

NAGASAKI – A man accused of indecency, violation of prefectural nuisance prevention ordinances and invasion of a residence, for alleged repeated indecent actions such as showing his naked and touching the body against multiple women with intellectual disabilities was sentenced on July 17th.

The unemployed male defendant (51), was sentenced by the Nagasaki District Court on July 17th for a minimum of three years and six months in prison, leading to a possible total of five years in prison.

According to court rulings, in September 2013, the defendant undressed and touched the chest of a woman in her twenties with intellectual disability on the apartment grounds in Nagasaki, and in September 2016 and May 2017 as well. A similar offense occurred against another woman in her 20s with an intellectual disability. Also, in September last year, the defendant tried to touch the chest by taking an ‘upskirt’ photograph of a high school girl with an intellectual disability, with a mobile phone.

Judge Shiomi pointed out that “We think that it is difficult for people with intellectual disabilities to detect crimes, and they are habitual crimes with a high risk of infringement of victims’ sexual freedom…We took into account the fact that the accused is making efforts for rehabilitation, such as taking a program at a medical center specializing in sexual disorders,” the judge said in conclusion.