Japan Court To See Video Of Sri Lankan Woman Who Died In Detention
NHK has learned that the Japanese government will enter into evidence in court video footage of a Sri Lankan woman before she died in detention.
Wishma Sandamali died at an immigration detention facility in Nagoya City, central Japan, in March of last year. She had complained of feeling ill before her death.
Her family filed a damages lawsuit, demanding the government pay over 150 million yen, or more than 1 million dollars, in compensation.
They argue that their loved one was illegally detained without a provisional release and did not get necessary medical care when her health deteriorated.
The Nagoya District Court asked the government in September to present an approximately 5-hour section of two weeks' worth of footage taken of Wishma during her detention. The relatives were shown that section of footage during the evidentiary phase.
Sources say the government told the court on Monday that it will present the footage as evidence after some images are concealed for security reasons.
The relatives say they want to get the footage and release it to the public.
Ibusuki Shoichi, a lawyer representing the relatives, says the footage is quite significant for the court case.
A sister of Wishma, Wayomi, tearfully said she is pleased that even a portion of the video will be presented, and that she hopes Japanese people will see it.