Tokyo police unjustifiablly arrest civil servant for distributing JCP leaflets

Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a government employee on March 3 on suspicion of violating the Natrional Public Service Law by distributing door to door the Japanese Communist Party newspaper Akahata's extra during the general election campaign in November last year. The police went so far as to search six locations, including his house and the JCP Chiyoda District Committee building, and seized personal computers and other items.

Police mobilized 30 police officers in two minibuses and a truck to arrest Horikoshi Akio, a 50-year-old employee of the Social Insurance Agency Meguro Office.

Police said that Horikoshi distributed about 150 copies of JCP fliers on October 19, 25, and November 3, all holidays or Sundays, in areas near his house in violation of the National Public Service Law.

Akahata on March 4 reported that police arrested him when criminal investigations into illegal activities in the latest general election (November 9, 2003) were all over. It is quite extraordinary for the Metropolitan Police Agency's public safety section, which is not in change of this issue, to deal with the case, Akahata said.

A commercial newspaper reported: "This is an arrest on suspicion of violating a law regulating public servants' political activities, an unprecedented matter" (Nikkei Shimbun, March 3, evening edition).

Following the 1983 simultaneous local elections, Tokyo police arrested a former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication employee on suspicion of putting up election posters in violation of the National Public Service Law. No public employee since has been charged with violation of the law. (end)