Ogasawara Makoto and others

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CASES WITH MULTIPLE CIVILIAN DEATHS
ILL-TREATMENT
ILLEGAL KILLINGS
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115

Illuminated portrait of Aboriginal serviceman Private Frederick Beale, who was captured together with his brother Private George Henry Beale, after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Both brothers were imprisoned in Changi POW Camp, before being sent on board the Kamakura Maru transport ship to Naoetsu Camp in Japan, where they were forced to work as steel mill labourers. Private Frederick Beale survived the war and was released in September 1945. Image courtesy of Australian War Memorial.

DATE OF CRIMES

Between 25 October and 24 November 1942

LOCATION OF CRIMES

On board the S.S. Singapore Maru on a voyage from Singapore to Moji, Japan

DATE OF TRIAL

1 and 2 May (subsequently adjourned sine die) and 16, 17, 18, and 20 September 1947

LOCATION OF TRIAL

Changi, Singapore

Defendants
Judges
Prosecution
Defence lawyers
Defence Advisory Officers

CASE INFORMATION

Case Summary

Nishimi Yoshimori (civilian), Lieutenant Ogasawara Makoto, 2nd Lieutenant Maruyama Naosuke, and Sergeant Uchida Yoichi, were onboard the cargo vessel S.S. Singapore Maru on a voyage from Singapore to Moji, Japan between 25 October and 24 November 1942. They were the Ship Master, Ship's Commandant, POW Draft Conducting Officer and POW guard respectively.

At the material time, the S.S. Singapore Maru was carrying, inter alia, 1081 British POWs. Several days after the ship set sail, dysentry broke out. Aggravated by overcrowding, shortage of medicines, inadequate sanitary facilities, inadequate protection from extremes of heat and cold, dirty living conditions and unsuitable food, the disease spread rapidly.

Nishimi, Ogasawara, Maruyama and Uchida were together charged with the ill-treatment of the POWs, resulting in the deaths of 60 people and the physical suffering of many others.

For more information, see:

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/e8d1e2/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/30cebc/

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INTERESTING FACTS

Nishimi Yoshimori elected to remain silent during the trial and chose neither to make an oral statement not upon oath nor give evidence on oath.

LEGAL ACTORS

DEFENDANTS

Nishimi, Yoshinori. Civilian. Ship Master. Guilty. 2 years' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Ogasawara, Makoto. Lieutenant. From Japanese military. From Japan. Guilty. 3 years' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Maruyama, Naosuke. 2nd Lieutenant. From Japanese military. From Japan. Guilty. 2 years' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

Uchida, Yoichi. Sergeant. From Japanese military. From Japan. Guilty. 6 months' imprisonment. Sentence confirmed.

JUDGES

Forsythe, P.A. (Military Medal). Lieutenant Colonel. From British military. Court President.

Hebden, E.N. Major. From British military.

Bains, N.S. Major. From British military.

PROSECUTION

Seagroatt, L.E.G. (Territorial Decoration.) Major. From British military. No legal qualifications. Lead Counsel. (For 1 and 2 May 1947.)

Wait, R.T. Major. From British military. (For 16, 17, 18, and 20 September 1947.)

DEFENCE LAWYERS

Yonehara, Susumu. Civilian. Judge Advocate, Tokyo Supreme Court. Lead Counsel. (For 1 and 2 May 1947.)

Hirose, Wasniro. Civilian. Judge Advocate, Tokyo Supreme Court. Co-Counsel. (For 1 and 2 May 1947.)

Abe, Taro. Civilian. Barrister, Tokyo Supreme Court. Lead Counsel. (For 16, 17, 18, and 20 September 1947.)

DEFENCE ADVISORY OFFICERS

Cartwright, D.S. Captain. From British military. (For 1 and 2 May 1947).

Borovsky, A.V. Captain. From British Indian Army.