The April 26 acquittal in Tokyo District Court of former Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa signified total "defeat" for public prosecutors in view of the strong possibility, as a journalist on judicial matters said, that the prosecutors had maneuvered a "prosecution inquest committee," an 11-member citizens' judicial panel, into sending Ozawa to court to make up for their own failure to do so earlier.
The journalist pointed out that public prosecutors can "control the evidence" submitted to such a panel.
At a time when courts are inclined to accommodate the public sentiment that ordinary citizens' perspective should be respected in criminal proceedings, the Ozawa case shows that the district court barely managed to maintain the principle of in dubio pro reo, which means that the defendant shall not be convicted if doubts about his or her guilt remain.