“I Can’t Accept It”: Mrs. Devi Is Furious Over Guilty Verdict, but Filing a Civil Lawsuit Puts Her TV Comeback Even Further Out of Reach

The court fully accepted the victims’ claims

On October 6, Devi Sukarno (86), known as “Mrs. Devi,” was found guilty of two counts of assault against a female manager.

Although she had generally acknowledged the charges since the first hearing—stating that she “did not intend to actively deny them” —Mrs. Devi appeared unable to hide her irritation as she listened to the presiding judge’s reasoning for the verdict that day.

According to someone who observed the trial,

“While the presiding judge was explaining the grounds for the verdict, she seemed dissatisfied—she had a bitter expression on her face and appeared to be muttering something under her breath. Her lawyer made a ‘Shh!’ gesture. It seemed the lawyer tried to explain something to her, but in the end, she spread her arms wide and made a ‘WHY?’ gesture.”

They added that “she seemed quite dissatisfied.”

“The lady had denied throwing champagne and physically assaulting her manager—punching and kicking him—inside the veterinary clinic. The presiding judge ruled that these denials were ‘unsubstantiated, vague, and not credible,’ and fully accepted the victim’s account—which must have infuriated her considerably,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

The sentence was a 200,000-yen fine, as requested by the prosecution. Mrs. Devi vented her frustration from the courtroom on social media. In an Instagram post updated after the verdict,

“I will admit what I should admit and reflect on what I should reflect on. However, I cannot admit to things that are not true,”

she expressed her dissatisfaction.

While an appeal is a possibility, the situation is complicated by reports that a new trial—separate from this one—is likely to begin.

The Impact of a Criminal Conviction

“It’s said that the victims of the assault case plan to sue Mrs. Devi in civil court as well. If that happens, she’ll have yet another lawsuit on her hands. Even though it was a fine, she was convicted in a criminal case. If she has to fight it out in civil court as well, it would certainly be difficult for TV stations to handle her case,” said a source involved in a news program.

If she is sued in civil court, how much of an impact will this criminal conviction have? Ayaki Masaki, managing partner at the law firm “Your Ace,” explains.

“Since criminal and civil trials are separate proceedings, the findings of fact in a criminal judgment do not legally bind a civil trial. However, it could have both positive and negative implications. In this criminal trial, while the defendant denied some of the assault charges, the court found the victim’s testimony credible and ruled that the assault had occurred.In civil proceedings, this will likely serve as strong evidence for the victim regarding the question of ‘whether an assault occurred.’

On the other hand, the prosecutor charged the defendant with assault but not with causing bodily injury. It is possible that the prosecutor questioned the causal relationship between the assault and the bodily injury. This could work against the victim’s claims in civil court for medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.”

Mrs. Devi argued in court that her work was canceled one after another following the incident, resulting in damages of approximately 90 million yen. It seems her difficult days are far from over—.

Comment: Ken’sho Masaki, Attorney at Law
Representative of Your Ace Law Firm. Member of the Second Tokyo Bar Association. Handles a wide range of cases, from civil matters—such as consumer disputes, traffic accidents, labor issues, inheritance, fraud, and drug-related cases—to criminal cases.In addition to being a regular guest on BAYFM’s “Yukki’s Can Can do it!,” he frequently appears in the media on news and information programs. On his YouTube channel, “Attorney Masakki Channel,” he explains legal and financial matters in an easy-to-understand manner, and on the Your Ace official channel, “Legal Consultations You Might Be Curious About,” he shares essential legal knowledge.