Suzuki is accused of tying a wooden stake to the Statue of Peace located near the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno District, Seoul, bearing a message that claimed the disputed Dokdo Islands (referred to as “Takeshima” in Japan) as Japanese territory, thereby dishonoring the memory of the ‘comfort women’ victims. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 15 (Korea Bizwire) –Nobuyuki Suzuki, a 59-year-old Japanese citizen, once again failed to appear for a court hearing in Seoul related to charges of defamation stemming from an act of vandalism against the ‘Statue of Peace’. The statue symbolizes the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II.
The hearing, presided over by Judge Lee Chun-geun of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 1, was scheduled to address Suzuki’s alleged defamation, which dates back to an incident in June 2012.
Suzuki is accused of tying a wooden stake to the Statue of Peace located near the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno District, Seoul, bearing a message that claimed the disputed Dokdo Islands (referred to as “Takeshima” in Japan) as Japanese territory, thereby dishonoring the memory of the ‘comfort women’ victims.
Despite being properly summoned, Suzuki has not attended a single court session since his initial hearing in September 2013, leading to a 12-year stall in the judicial proceedings. This marks the 25th time the first hearing has been postponed due to his absence.
Efforts to compel Suzuki’s appearance through the issuance of arrest warrants have been futile, with seven warrants expiring after one year without execution, and an eighth issued in April of last year. Given Suzuki’s current residence in Japan, the prospect of extraditing him to South Korea for custody appears challenging.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
