KANAZAWA, Ishikawa Pref. (Kyodo) A 34-year-old man indicted for exposing himself outside the women's section of a public bathhouse in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, in 2009 was cleared Friday of public indecency after a court found his act wasn't intentional.

The Kanazawa District Court said the man from Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture, "probably fell asleep on a sofa set up near the ladies' bath. There is reasonable doubt that he exhibited his lower body with intent to offend women."

The man, whose name was not released, was wearing a garment provided by the bathhouse, but his lower half was barely covered as he slept on the sofa.

Following the Nov. 3, 2009, incident, some women complained to police that they were offended by his act. He was eventually indicted for public indecency.

"I'm relieved. I was confident of my innocence, but worried until I heard the ruling," the man said.