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arashitranslation
What is “Summons of Sworn Witness”?
The Diet is going to “summon sworn witness” the first time since five years.
Declared “I shall reveal everything at the Diet”
Kagoike Yasunori, head director of Gakko Hojin・Moritomo Gakuen.
Scheduled to be held on 23 March (Thursday)
What will be talked about at “summons of sworn witness”?
At first, the opposition parties such as The Democratic Party
in order to investigate the issue that the state-owned land was sold to the Gakuen more than 800 million yen cheaper than its appraisal value
requested to summon Kagoike-san to “testify as unsworn witness”.
In regard to this the ruling parties such as Liberal Democratic Party
refused the request as “it should be careful summoning general public to testify as unsworn witness”.
However there was a turn when Kagoike-san claimed that he received 1 million yen donation from Prime Minister Abe.
Regarding this as an insult to Prime Minister Abe
“summon of sworn witness” which is more compulsory than “summon of unsworn witness” was proposed.
In the first place summons of sworn witness is
in order to investigate the government, the committees of the House of Representatives or the House of Councillors
summon witness to the Diet requesting an explanation.
As for summons of unsworn witness there is no penalty for false statement.
However during summons of sworn witness making false statement will be charged with perjury
There is a possibility of imprisonment of more than three months and less than less than 10 years.
Summons of sworn witness with extraordinary tension.
Thus far various historic scenes were seen.
Summons of sworn witness during which false statement will be charged with perjury.
41 years ago, the witness…
■ Witness
“Eh~, now, I do not have memory”
“I do not have memory”
“No, now, I do not have memory”
A succession of “no memory”.
“I do not have memory” became the popular phrase that year.
Besides during another summons of sworn witness, when signing the oath…
■ Witness
“That… I am not able to sign it”
Being nervous, the hand holding pen was trembling.
■ Witness
“I am not able to sign it…”
Furthermore, there is such scene too.
This is the news clip in 1992.
■ Former Prime Minister Takeshita
“As for this question, I have no idea at all”
Resembling a picture-story show, the summons of sworn witness proceeded with still images and sound.
In consideration of the witness’s human rights
Until the testimony starts
only photography was allowed, there was such time too.
Now depending on the decision of the committees there is possibility of live broadcast too.
Thus far over 1,000 people
have been summoned by the Diet as sworn witnesses.
In the past,
for witness who is hospitalised in hospital a member of Diet will be dispatched for the testimony
for witness detained in detention house
there were occasion as well that the member of Diet went there for testimony.
That the venue for testimony can be outside the Diet is also stipulated.
Besides to witness, in principle “daily allowance” will be paid.
In the occasion that the witness is summoned by the Houses
From the House of Representatives or the House of Councillors respectively 18,500 yen will be paid.
Transportation expenses will also be paid
in case of Shinkansen, taking green car is allowed.
In the occasion that the witness needs to stay in hotel from the previous day
an accommodation allowance of 14,800 yen will be paid.
While summons of sworn witness is expected to help approach the truth
Towards the outcome this time there are also doubts.
According to the NNN opinion poll held during weekend,
responding to the question “Do you think by summoning Head Director Kagoike the truth surrounding the land transaction issue will become clear”
12.8% responded “I think so” while
up to 71.8% responded “I don’t think so”.
Experts said that
“In the first place, summons of sworn witness is different from trial
it is not a matter of black and white,
as for the doubts held by the citizens
a place to listen to them is necessary instead”.
Source: News Zeroイチメン (http://www.ntv.co.jp/zero/ichimen/2017/03/post-338.html)