Mitsuhiro Kobayashi, 44, was sentenced to death by...

Mitsuhiro Kobayashi, 44, was sentenced to death by the Aomori District Court for setting fire to a branch office of Takefuji, a major consumer credit firm, which killed five staff members during an attempted robbery in May 2001. In handing down the death sentence, which had been demanded by prosecutors, presiding Judge Akiyoshi Yamauchi said Kobayashi bore an "enormously heavy" burden of guilt for the crime, which he committed as a result of falling into debt from gambling on bicycle races. According to the ruling, Kobayashi broke into the branch at 10:50 a.m. on May 8, 2001, sprinkled gasoline on the floor and demanded money. After the branch manager refused to comply, Kobayashi ignited the gasoline and fled.