Sasa Akira

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PRISON AND CAMP CASES

127

The cast of "Wonder Bar" (a play on the German word "wunderbar", meaning wonderful) lined up on stage at a camp theatre. The audience, including some Japanese prison guards, is standing in front. Leo Britt, standing on the far left of the stage, is wearing the standard outfit for POWs, a loincloth (known as a Jap Happy) and wooden slippers. The POWs supplied all the materials for the musical, such as rice sack costumes and bamboo backdrops. This image was taken by a Japanese prison guard and later given to one of the prisoners, 19 May 1944. Image courtesy of Australian War Memorial.

DATE OF CRIMES

27 March 1943

LOCATION OF CRIMES

Chungkai Prisoner of War Camp, Siam (present-day Thailand)

DATE OF TRIAL

19, 21, 22, and 26 January 1948

LOCATION OF TRIAL

Singapore

Defendants
Judges
Prosecution
Defence lawyers
Defence Advisory Officers

CASE INFORMATION

Case Summary

The defendant was the Chief Administrative Officer and Group Commander of all POW camps employed in the construction of the Siam-Burma Railway. Four British POWs escaped from a camp and were captured after about one and a half months. The defendant instructed that they should be shot.

For more information see:

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/82d028/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/d57197/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/dc0bba/

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INTERESTING FACTS

The defendant denied ever issuing orders to shoot the POWs who had escaped, but he did admit that shooting might be undertaken to prevent POWs from escaping.

LEGAL ACTORS

DEFENDANTS

Sasa, Akira. Major General. From Japanese military. From Japan. Guilty. Death by hanging. Sentence confirmed.

JUDGES

Massie, L.A. Lieutenant Colonel. From British military. Court President. Solicitor.

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

Mardon, H.L. Captain. From British military.

PROSECUTION

Wait, R.T. Major. From British military.

DEFENCE LAWYERS

Abe, Taro. LL.B. Barrister at Law. Supreme Court of Tokyo.

DEFENCE ADVISORY OFFICERS

Hook, C.B.E. Captain. From British military. Solicitor.