JAPAN: HIGH COURT HANDS DEATH PENALTY TO FRAUD-RING LEADER

in Japan, the Tokyo High Court upheld a lower court death sentence given to the former leader of a fraud ring over beatings resulting in the deaths of four ring members in 2004. Taishi Shimizu, 29, who was convicted of murder and inflicting injuries resulting in death, is expected to appeal the high court ruling to the Supreme Court. Presiding Judge Tetsuji Nagaoka found he played “the leading role in a cold, vicious crime” when the members were beaten for trying to steal money.