Ogasawara Makoto and others

115
DATE OF CRIMES
Between 25 October and 24 November 1942
LOCATION OF CRIMES
On board the S.S. Singapore Maru on a voyage from Singapore to Moji, Japan
DATE OF TRIAL
1 and 2 May (subsequently adjourned sine die) and 16, 17, 18, and 20 September 1947
LOCATION OF TRIAL
Changi, Singapore
Case Summary

Nishimi Yoshimori (civilian), Lieutenant Ogasawara Makoto, 2nd Lieutenant Maruyama Naosuke, and Sergeant Uchida Yoichi, were onboard the cargo vessel S.S. Singapore Maru on a voyage from Singapore to Moji, Japan between 25 October and 24 November 1942. They were the Ship Master, Ship's Commandant, POW Draft Conducting Officer and POW guard respectively.

At the material time, the S.S. Singapore Maru was carrying, inter alia, 1081 British POWs. Several days after the ship set sail, dysentry broke out. Aggravated by overcrowding, shortage of medicines, inadequate sanitary facilities, inadequate protection  from extremes of heat and cold, dirty living conditions and unsuitable food, the disease spread rapidly.

Nishimi, Ogasawara, Maruyama and Uchida were together charged with the ill-treatment of the POWs, resulting in the deaths of 60 people and the physical suffering of many others. 

 

For more information, see:

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/e8d1e2/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/e8d1e2/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/30cebc/

Nishimi Yoshimori elected to remain silent during the trial and chose neither to make an oral statement not upon oath nor give evidence on oath.