A doctor at a prison in Tokushima Prefecture regularly abused inmates physically, sparking a riot last month in which several guards were injured, lawyers for the inmates said Tuesday.
Lawyer Yuichi Kaido said at least 12 inmates at Tokushima Prison are preparing to file a criminal complaint against the doctor, and said the complaints underscore a wider problem of human rights abuses in prisons.
"It's not just one doctor, but represents an underlying problem that medical treatment is considered part of disciplinary measures in Japanese prisons," Kaido said. "The doctor has a strong prejudice against inmates and thinks they deserve punishment."