The Tokyo District Court dismissed a lawsuit Thursday filed by three foreigners who demanded ¥31.66 million in combined compensation from the government for physical abuse, emotional suffering and medical neglect allegedly inflicted at the hands of immigration officials.

The court said the plaintiffs didn't prove the allegations.

The plaintiffs' lawyers plan to appeal. They said at a news conference that physical abuses of this type, which occur behind closed doors, are difficult to prove because evidence is hard to obtain.