Hojo Kanemitsu and others

093
DATE OF CRIMES
Between 10 November 1943 and 25 May 1946
LOCATION OF CRIMES
Pankalan Balai, Palembang, Sumatra
DATE OF TRIAL
28, 29, 30 November 1946
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13 December 1946
LOCATION OF TRIAL
Singapore
CASE INFORMATION
Case Summary

Defendants were alleged to ill-treat British and Dutch POWs at Pankalan Balai POW Camp. In particular, the first defendant, Hojo Kanemitsu, was said to fail to maintain appropriate and adequate discipline among his Korean guards. The Korean guards, who were also defendants in the case, were said to beat up POWs. This resulted in the mental and physical suffering of the POWs.

For more information see:

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/d9b30c/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/c9f5c8/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/5e2a39/

CRIME LOCATION MAP
INTERESTING FACTS

Each Korean guard had a set of nicknames by the POWs, based off their appearance or behaviour towards the POWs. These nicknames was used in court and in the evidence produced.

The nicknames are as follows:
Hojo, Kanemitsu - Lazy Williams
Tokuyama, Naokichi - Bello, John the Beater, George Raft, Chain smoker
Tokuyama, Konko - Indian, The Black, William the Silent, Konko)
Ohara, Teiman - The Irish Nip
Motoyama, Shigeki - Shrewmouse, Spitmuis
Matsumoto, Eitaku - The Beard
Hirayama, Chuchin - The Mad Cook

Case also mentions the "Pritchard Incident" - the incident where four POWs got out of the POW camp during the vicinity in order to get some food. The POWs were not motivated by a desire to escape, but because of hunger. 

LEGAL ACTORS
DEFENDANTS

Hojo, Kanemitsu. Captain. From Japanese military. From Japan. Guilty. 10 years' imprisonment. Sentence reduced. 4 years' imprisonment. 

Tokuyama, Naokichi. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 10 years' imprisonment. Sentence reduced. 5 years' imprisonment.

Tokuyama, Konko. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 3 years' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Ohara, Teiman. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 12 years' imprisonment. Sentence reduced. 6 years' imprisonment. 

Motoyama, Shigeki. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 7 years' imprisonment. Sentence reduced. 3 years' imprisonment. 

Iwamoto, Moshaku. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 3 years' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Matsumoto, Eitaku. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 5 years' imprisonment. Sentence reduced. 3 years' imprisonment.

Hirayama, Chuchin. Korean Guard. From Japanese military. From Korea. Guilty. 2 years' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

JUDGES

Symons, K. T. Lieutenant Colonel. From British military. Barrister-at-Law.

Hassan, Teufiq. Captain. From British Indian Army.

D'Abreo, V. L. A. From British Indian Army.

PROSECUTION

Eber, J. F. Civilian. Barrister at Law.

Cleyndert, L. D. Lieutenant. From Dutch military. 

DEFENCE LAWYERS

Hirai, Toyotaro. Japanese Lawyer.

DEFENCE ADVISORY OFFICERS

Healy, J. F. Captain. From British military.