The former president of a poultry processor was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison for shipping cheap chicken products labeled as the high-quality local specialty brand Hinaijidori.
Seiichi Fujiwara, the 77-year-old former chief of Hinaidori K.K. in Akita Prefecture, swindled 11 agents out of around ¥63 million by shipping the falsely labeled products in 2006, according to the Akita District Court.
"The defendant carries great responsibility for damaging the brand name of Hinaijidori," presiding Judge Sumio Baba said.
Fujiwara, who admitted to the charges and sought leniency, immediately filed an appeal.
Prosecutors had demanded seven years in prison.
Of five other people arrested with Fujiwara in May, none was indicted.