Kudo-kai trial shows prefectural police’s seriousness in deploying bulletproof police vehicles
“I’ve been asking for a fair trial. I don’t know if there is such a trial on ……. You’re going to regret this for the rest of your life!
On August 24, Satoru Nomura, the head of the Kudo-kai, a gang designated as dangerous, was sentenced to death at the Fukuoka District Court. “His words were reported by the media along with the “death sentence”, but in fact, it was not only the courtroom that was dominated by a somber atmosphere.
“I was really surprised. I’ve never seen so many bulletproof police vehicles at a district court sentencing. I even thought that the U.S. president was visiting Japan and they were protecting him.
This is what a veteran cameraman who was covering the trial had to say. On the day of the trial, he was filming the transfer of Nomura and his number two, Fumio Tagami, from the detention center to the Fukuoka District Court, and was surprised by the “quality and quantity” of Fukuoka Prefectural Police vehicles surrounding the car carrying Nomura and Tagami on the way back.
On the way back, he was surprised by the “quality and quantity” of vehicles of the Fukuoka Prefectural Police that surrounded the car carrying Nomura and Tagami. There were a total of seven vehicles, including the convoy. All of them were bulletproof vehicles. On the side of the Chevrolet’s body, there were handrails and steps to put your feet on. These are designed so that in case of an attack, the driver can ride on the side of the vehicle and respond to a gunfight. I believe that the Fukuoka Prefectural Police had several of these police vehicles so that they would be able to respond to the Kudo-kai in the unlikely event that the Kudo-kai launched a ‘recapture operation’ or retaliation.
It is not clear to what extent the Fukuoka Prefectural Police had anticipated such a situation, but we can see their “seriousness of intent” in having so many vehicles on guard. It may have been meant to show their resolve both inside and outside the prefecture.
The defendant Nomura and the defendant Tagami, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, appealed against the verdict. The tension in the city may continue for a while.
