Japan’s Nara District Prosecutor’s Office has charged former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s attacker with murder and violation of the Firearms and Swords Act, all after a psychiatric evaluation found no mental illness that could have an impact on his decisions.
After being remanded in custody after shooting the former prime minister in the back on July 8, Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, has been charged with criminal responsibility for Abe’s death, the ‘Yomiuri’ newspaper reported.
The Japanese judicial authorities have concluded that there was no reason to charge him since he manufactured homemade weapons and gunpowder and acted systematically, even controlling the schedule of Abe’s speeches.
The incident took place on the street in front of Kintetsu Yamat-Saidaiji Station in Nara City at 11:30 am. After shooting the former Japanese prime minister, he was immediately arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. During the investigation of the case, Yamagami confessed that he had a grudge against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church), to which his mother (70) was affiliated and made a large donation.
The attacker — who accused Abe of having favored the establishment of the religious group in Japan — had sent a letter shortly before the attack in which he warned of his intentions. The letter showed the man’s strong resentment toward the Unification Church.
Investigators have indicated that, according to family sources, his mother had donated more than 700,000 euros to the Unification Church during her lifetime. These donations included 60 million yen (about 429,000 euros) from Yamagami’s father’s inheritance.
In addition, the woman reportedly gave to the church the proceeds from the sale of the family’s real estate and assets. She then continued to donate small amounts until she ran out of money in 2002.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
