First trial of Shinji Saito, former “Janpoke” defendant: “Although he claims innocence, his apology and settlement offer are contradictory”; possible jail sentence.

Claimed that a woman he had never met before ‘consented to it.

A man who emotionlessly looks into the void ……. It was hard to believe that he was the same person as the popular comedian who once made the tea room a whirlpool of laughter with his unique facial tricks that made the most of his distinctive appearance──.

On March 13, the first trial of Shinji Saito, 43, formerly of “Jungle Pocket,” was held at the Tokyo District Court.

At a little after 9:30 a.m., the car carrying Saito entered the Tokyo District Court without slowing down. He was seated in the last row of three seats, so we could not see his face.

Saito, who appeared before the media for the first time in a year and nine months at his first trial, which began at 10:00, wore a black suit and blue tie. He wore a black suit and blue tie and appeared relatively calm.

Saito is alleged to have committed the crime on July 30, 2012, in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, in a parked location bus prepared for the filming of a variety show. On October 7 of the same year, he was sent to prosecution on charges of non-consensual sexual intercourse for sexually assaulting Ms. A, a female TV personality in her 20s whom he had never met before, several times in the morning and afternoon, including touching and kissing her breasts, despite her refusal to do so.

Saito denied the charges and pleaded not guilty, saying that he thought the woman consented to his actions. On the other hand, he also revealed that he had apologized to Ms. A and offered her a settlement. Criminal journalist Taihei Ogawa commented on this as follows.

Saito claims his innocence by saying that he thought Ms. A, whom he met for the first time that day, was agreeing with him. If he claims that he is not guilty, it means that Mr. A is lying, and it seems contradictory to apologize to him and offer him a settlement. Considering that the settlement offer was made after Mr. A was indicted, it seems like a strategy on the part of the lawyers to reduce the sentence.

If the defendant is found guilty without a settlement, how much of a sentence will he receive?

The case of Saito is quite similar to that of actor Hirofumi Arai, 47, who was charged with forcible sexual intercourse. He was charged with forcible sexual intercourse and pleaded not guilty while admitting the sexual act itself. After the first trial, in which he was sentenced to five years in prison, he paid 3 million yen in compensation and a settlement was reached. As a result, the Tokyo High Court reduced his sentence to 4 years. Since the sentence will be the same, there is a possibility that he will be sentenced to four years in prison, as opposed to the five years he was sentenced to.

Shortly after 11:00 a.m., a hired car carrying Saito emerged from the Tokyo District Court. Saito showed some signs of concern for the flashes of the press cameras, but as at the beginning of the trial, he turned his head slightly to the side and kept a blank expression on his face.

The next trial is scheduled for March 17.