Chronology of Case 2304

2002
Nov.1 Police arrested seven JRU members, then searched 64 spots including the union office and union officers' residences, and seized 1094 items. (JRU-Urawa incident)
2003
Jun. 21 Police searched 18 spots and seized 538 items on the ground of an alleged incident which took place on 22 June 2002. (Tokyo Station incident)
Aug. 1 JRU submitted a complaint to ILO.
Oct. 2 ITF associated itself with the complaint.
Oct. 10 JRU7 were granted bail after 344 days in detention.
2004
Nov. 17 ILO released the recommendations (PDF.file) of Case 2304.
Nov. The oppression case was carried on ICFTU annual survey 2004 of violations of trade union rights.
2005
Mar. 16 Tokyo Station incident - Three suspects, non-prosecuted
Mar. 28 JFBA issued a warning letter to the police.
Nov.17 ILO made a second recommendation (follow-up) to the Japanese government.
Dec.  7 Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department raided on the JRU and JREU offices with massive confiscation on suspicion of alleged "embezzlement".
2006
Feb. 3 ILO Workers' Group sent a letter to Prime Minister, Koizumi , to respect the decisions of  ILO Governing Body.
Jun. 16 ILO Governing Body made a third recommendation (follow-up).
Jun.30 Tokyo District Court gave a  judgment  to order  Tokyo Metropolitan Government to pay compensation.
Aug.2-9 JRU's Motion unanimously  was adopted at 41st ITF Congress.
2007
Feb.15,19

The Tokyo police raided JRU office and other locations on suspicion of another alleged “embezzlement”.

May-June

Three suspects of “embezzlement” (2005) were exempted from prosecution under the statute of limitations.

Jun.15

ILO made a fourth recommendation (follow-up).

Jul.13

The Aichi police raided head office and Nagoya region office of Central Japan Railway Workers’ Union (JRCU), and conducted questionings on suspicion of alleged “theft”.

Jul.17

The Tokyo District Court convicted JRU7, who immediately appealed to a higher court.

Aug.30

East Japan Railway Company dismissed JRU7 on the ground of the decision of the Tokyo District Court. JRU requested an urgent intervention from ILO.

Nov.30

Public Safety Bureau of the Tokyo police filed criminal papers with prosecutors against Mr. Matsuzaki (former president of JREU) on suspicion of alleged “embezzlement” (2005).

Dec.28

 The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office dropped the case against Mr. Matsuzaki because of insufficient evidence.

2008
Mar.18 Public Safety Bureau of the Tokyo police filed criminal papers with prosecutors against Mr. Sato (former Director of Japan Railway Welfare Association) on suspicion of another alleged “embezzlement”.
Mar.19

A member of JRCU was indicted without arrest by the Nagoya District Prosecutors Office : Gamagoori Station case.

Apr.25

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office dropped the case against Mr. Sato because of insufficient evidence.

Nov.19 ILO made a fifth recommendation (follow-up).
2009
Apr.21

The Nagoya District Court convicted Mr. Kato, a defendant of Gamagoori Station Case. He immediately appealed to a higher court.

Jun. 5

The Tokyo High Court delivered JRU7 a decision of “dismissal of an appeal”. They immediately made a final appeal to the Supreme Court.

Oct.5 The Nagoya High Court delivered Mr. Kato a decision of “dismissal of an appeal”. He immediately made a final appeal to the Supreme Court.
2010
Jan.15

East Japan Railway Company reinstated Yoshida, an alleged “victim” of JR Urawa Case.

Feb.23 Tokyo District Court made a decision to order Kodansha Ltd. and the writer, Mr. Nishioka, to pay JRU, JREU and Mr. Yanaji (one of JRU7) compensation of 2,200,000 yen.
Nov.18 ILO Governing Body made a sixth recommendation (follow-up).
2011