Former Aum Shinrikyo member Akemi Saito pleaded guilty in court Tuesday to harboring fugitive cultist Makoto Hirata for 14 years, while prosecutors demanded a two-year jail term.
"Because of (Saito's) actions, the police were unable to arrest Hirata for many years. The defendant harbored Hirata out of her emotions toward him and disregarded the feelings of the victims" of crimes Hirata participated in, one prosecutor told the Tokyo District Court.
Saito's lawyers asked for a suspend sentence because she has expressed remorse. A verdict will be handed down March 27.