Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara was ordered out of the courtroom Wednesday after being summoned to the trial of his former disciples and failing to give clear consent when asked to take an oath.

Asahara, 43, was scheduled to testify as a defense witness for three cultists alleged to have been involved in the March 1995 nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.

Toru Toyoda, 30, Kenichi Hirose, 34, and Shigeo Sugimoto, 39, were flanked by guards and seated in the courtroom when Asahara, attired in a blue fleece jacket and gray sweat pants, was brought in.