TOKYO — 1948 · Murder
Teigin Incident — Bank Poisoning
On 26 January 1948, in post-war Tokyo, a man claiming to be a health official entered the Shiinamachi branch of the Teikoku Bank. Saying he was administering medicine against a dysentery outbreak, he had staff drink a liquid; 12 people died and he escaped with money. Painter Sadamichi Hirasawa was arrested, retracted his confession in court, but was sentenced to death in 1950. Because of serious doubts about his guilt, no justice minister ever signed the execution order. Hirasawa died in prison in 1987 aged 95. His family's retrial petitions failed, and the case is regarded as one of Japan's most contested convictions.
- Date
- 1948
- Place
- Toshima, Japan, Tokyo, JP
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 35.7265, 139.6947 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 26 January 194812 employees of the Teigin Shiinamachi branch died of poisoning.
- August 1948Painter Sadamichi Hirasawa was arrested.
- 1950Hirasawa was sentenced to death; the sentence was never carried out.
- 1987Hirasawa died in prison aged 95.
- 2013The retrial petition came to an end.
Sources
- The Japan Times — Court calls end to plea seeking Teigin retrial japantimes.co.jp ↗
- Wikipedia — Sadamichi Hirasawa en.wikipedia.org ↗
- The Japan Times
- Japan Innocence & Death Penalty Information Center
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.