Usuki Kishio and others

073
DATE OF CRIMES
Between 1 March 1944 and 31 January 1945
LOCATION OF CRIMES
Various POW camps in Siam (present-day Thailand)
DATE OF TRIAL
12, 13, 19 and 22 August 1946
LOCATION OF TRIAL
Singapore
CASE INFORMATION
Case Summary

The first two defendants, Kishio Usuki and Aitaro Hiramatsu, were Japanese officers and, at different points in time, held the commanding position of various POW camps while the remaining defendants were Korean Guards serving in the camps. The defendants were charged for ill-treatment of POWs, including beatings, depriving them of food and medicine and forcing the sick to work.

For more information see:

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/576d32/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/82c82b/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/6c3172/

CRIME LOCATION MAP
INTERESTING FACTS

Tha POW camps involved in this case were Tamuano, Kanu, Tarsoa, Pratchai, Tonchan, Rin Tin, Pungyisho, Kinsayo, and Krian Kri POW camps.

The POWs did not know the defendants real names and used nicknames based on physical features and behaviours as follows:
Usuki Kishio - Kanu Kid
Hiramatsu Ajitaro - The Tiger
Motoyama Kinzo (Kim Yong) - Black Prince
Matsumoto Meizan (Choi Myang San) - Silver Bullet
Tokuyama Mitsui (Hong Jong Mok) - Donald Duck (as he continually shouted and complained about the POWs in the same kind of noise that Donal Duck makes in the films)
Iwaya Taikyo (Kang Te Yong) - Mad Mongrel
Morimoto Kinei (Pak Kum Yong) - Mad Bugler/"Make Me Beautiful" (insisted a POW act as his "butler" - clean rifle, polish equipment and generally look after him)
Minaka Shunshaku (Cha Jun Suk) - Singing Master (forced POWs to learn Japanese patriotic songs)
Kumoi Eiji (Cho Un Kuk) - Bombay Duck

 

LEGAL ACTORS
DEFENDANTS

Usuki, Kishio. Lieutenant. From Japanese military. From Japan. Guilty. Death by hanging. Sentence confirmed.

Hiramatsu, Aitaro. Sergeant Major. From Japanese military. From Japan. Guilty. Death by hanging. Sentence confirmed.

Motoyama, Kinzo. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. Death by hanging. Sentence reduced. Life imprisonment.

Matsumoto, Meizan. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. Life imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Tokuyama, Mitsui. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. Death by hanging. Sentence reduced. Life imprisonment.

Iwaya, Taikyo. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. Death by hanging. Sentence confirmed.

Tomotoma, Yugei. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 10 years' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Morimoto, Kinei. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. Life imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Minaka, Shunshaku. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. Life imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Kumoi, Eiji. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 15 years' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

JUDGES

Blacklock, E. W. Lieutenant Colonel. From British military. Court president. Solicitor.

Hodgens, S. F. Major. From Australian military.

Partington, D. W. M. Flight Lieutenant. From British military.

PROSECUTION

Hibbert, A. A. Major. From Australian military. Law student.

McIntyre, Grant. Captain. From Australian military. 

DEFENCE LAWYERS

Kawazoe, Toshioki. District Judge.

DEFENCE ADVISORY OFFICERS

Fortescue. Major. From British military.