The Japan Federation of Bar Associations urged police authorities Wednesday to stop using rubber gags in the wake of reports that a man detained at a police station in Wakayama died last month after one was used on him.
In a petition filed with the National Police Agency and the National Public Safety Commission, the federation said, "It is an extremely serious problem that the rubber gag, use of which has already been banned by the Justice Ministry, is still legally used at police detention facilities."
An NPA official who received the petition said, "We have already suspended use and are now investigating the cause of the death of the detainee."