Matsuoka Isamu

Case Summary

The defendant was charged with committing a war crime, particularly the violation of the laws and usages of war concerning the ill-treatment of Hari Dass, a civilian resident of Port Blair, who died as a consequence of the ill-treatment he received. The defendant was from the Imperial Japanese Army. On 19 January 1945, the victim, Hari Dass, a schoolmaster was arrested by Tanaka Renji who suspected him of having stolen wood from a Japanese store. Tanaka tied the victim to a post and beat him for 10 minutes. The victim was then tied to a tree and beaten with sticks by Nakayama Harumi, Fujie Takeo and the defendant. Cold water was also thrown over the victim in between beatings which lasted between 10 and 15 minutes. The victim died as a result of the beatings.

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The defendant denied that he had taken any part in the beating of the victim and even said that he had merely prodded the victim with a stick when the victim was being interrogated as to his alleged theft of firewood. The defendant claimed that the prosecution's evidence against him was false and attempted to establish an alibi. Notwithstanding so, his death sentence was confirmed.