Harada Kensei

Case Summary

The defendant, Captain Harada Kensei, was the Chief of the Kempeitai section at Penampang, British Borneo (present-day Malaysia), which was renamed Api after the Japanese conquest in 1942. Harada was accused of unlawfully ordering the execution of eight civilians. The victims were suspected to have sympathised with the Allied cause, or actively participated in anti-Japanese activities. 

Harada was found guilty of all three charges against him and sentenced to death by judicial hanging.

For more information see:

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/d33930/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/7ede6b/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/fe7fce/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/d70058/

Harada had argued, among other things, that he had acted under orders from his superior, General Masao Baba, the Japanese General Officer Commanding in Borneo, and thus had no option but to comply. Harada also argued that the subversive activities of the local residents warranted immediate and harsh action as they compromised for the secuity of the Japanese Army