Takahashi Kohei and another

Case Summary

The accused were the staff of the 67th Japanese Commissory Hospital on the island of New Britain in Papau New Guinea. Sergeant Major Takahashi Kohei was in charge of a group of British Indian Army Prisoners of War while Corporal Kaso Tatsuo assisted him. They were charged with illtreating the Prisoners of War by beating them and forcing unfit and sick men to work on the threat of witholding rations. Both were found guilty with the exception of "forcing unfit men to work" and sentenced to 6 months' imprisonment.

For more information see:

http://http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/b687eb/

http://http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/c81286/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/2429fa/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/cfdd7e/

The sentences passed were comparatively light compared to other cases. The crimes took place on New Britain and the difficulty of holding the trial in Singapore was evident as the prosecution had to rely only on written statements from victimes and witnesses as it was unable to transport them over from New Britain.

The work that the POWs were carrying out was plantation work where they worked alongside Japanese and Taiwanese troops.