The court decision to give former Japanese baseball star Kazuhiro Kiyohara a suspended term for possessing, using and purchasing illegal drugs was finalized as of midnight Tuesday after prosecutors and the defendant decided not to appeal.
The Tokyo District Court on May 31 sentenced the 48-year-old former Seibu Lions and Yomiuri Giants slugger to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years.
Prosecutors had demanded a prison term of two years and six months for violation of the stimulants control law concerning psychoactive agents such as amphetamine and methamphetamine.
While calling the crime "malicious," the court suspended the sentence, saying Kiyohara has already been socially sanctioned after his case was widely reported by news media and his father and friends have indicated their intent to support his rehabilitation as well.
Kiyohara was arrested on Feb. 2 for possession of stimulant drugs at his apartment in Tokyo. He was additionally charged with drug use at a Tokyo hotel around Feb. 1 and purchasing the drugs from an acquaintance at a hotel in Gunma Prefecture around Sept. 1.
Kiyohara admitted to the charges at his first court hearing at on May 17, saying he began using drugs because he could not deal with the stress and anxiety he experienced after retirement, and he apologized to young baseball players aspiring to become professional ballplayers.