OSAKA -- Former Osaka Gov. "Knock" Yokoyama was sentenced Thursday to an 18-month suspended prison term for molesting a 22-year-old female campaign worker during his re-election bid in April 1999.
The Osaka District Court found Yokoyama's act "persistent and malicious" but suspended the sentence for three years because it was almost impossible for the 68-year-old Yokoyama, given his age, to become active again in public life after losing everything he had gained.
Judge Masayuki Kawai said the court suspended the prison term after also taking into consideration that Yokoyama resigned as governor and paid 11 million yen in damages to the woman.