A 31-year-old former Nagoya Prison inmate who was allegedly abused by guards last year during his incarceration says he still suffers physical aftereffects as well as trauma from the violence.
The man's case, along with that of a 49-year-old inmate who was fatally abused at the same prison in May 2002, triggered intense public concerns over the human rights situation inside the nation's penitentiaries, prompting the Justice Ministry to form a panel of experts to probe the issue and to pledge sweeping correctional policy reforms.
The man, now released, took part in a public symposium Monday in Tokyo. Although he wants to remain anonymous, he did not hide his face; organizers asked the media not to photograph him.