The counsel for Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara will not be penalized for missing the deadline for filing a document with the Tokyo High Court needed to appeal his death sentence, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations said Thursday.
In rejecting the high court request to punish lawyers Takeshi Matsui and Akio Matsushita, JFBA Vice Chairman Shigeru Sugisaki explained that the demand was unlawful because it was made after the guru's trial had concluded.
"We must say that the request has no legal grounds," Sugisaki said, noting the purpose of punishing lawyers for such acts is to ensure an ongoing trial will proceed speedily, and to penalize them after the conclusion would be untimely.