British Citizen Patrick Laughlin, another victim of gross injustice in Japan was released from the notorious Osaka jail on September 4th 2003.

Pat was released on parole but actually served 3 yrs, 10 months and 5 days of a 4 years sentence! He has written about his experiences on the website set up for him. Please read what he has to say about his treatment in Japanese prison, the inaction of the British authorities and how he was forced into slave labour for Japanese conglomerates:-

"The treatment afforded to me in the detention centres was disgraceful. In Okazaki conditions were appalling and I was refused essential medical treatment and rightful communication with the British authorities. I didn't things could get any worse but sadly I was very mistaken.

Once in Nagoya it didn't take long for me to witness the brutality of the regime. I saw 1st hand a mentally disabled prisoner being kicked and abused by a number of thug guards. A few months later those same thugs turned their attention to me. They were determined to break me! They denied me and all other foreign prisoners our basic human rights and treated me far worse than the Japanese prisoners. Because I was not prepared to sit back and take it, because I was determined to speak up for my rights and at times those of others, I was targeted. Further rights were denied, the more I complained the worse it got. I was regularly threatened and physically abused on a number of occasions. It got so bad I decided to hunger strike in a desperate attempt to highlight the barbaric system and the way they treated prisoners.

After 5 days of hunger strike they started to threaten me after a few more they nearly killed me. I was strangled to within an inch of my life and placed in an extremely painful torture device which is outlawed internationally. In Japan it has now come to light that several people have died from injuries caused by this belt.

During this time I pleaded with the British authorities to protect me, I made several complaints and asked for intervention and a thorough investigation. I was ignored and only when the revelations of several peoples deaths in Nagoya prison came to their attention 18months later, did they contemplate the possibility that my ordeal may have been true. I actually wrote to them stating [Now do you believe me?]. I was physically abused at least 10 times and each time I reported it the British authorities came up with excuses to vindicate the actions of the Japanese.

I was so relieved to be sent to Osaka. In the main conditions were better but still not good. The system there is extremely oppressive, particularly towards foreigners and disabled people. The prison factory system is nothing more than slave labour! To begin with I was paid £3 for a months work. I worked hard, you had to. You couldn't talk, look away from your desk and if you broke any 1 of their ridiculous, meaningless rules you'd be sent to solitary confinement. I know that in these factories parts are made for subsidiaries of large Japanese conglomerates.

I am in the process of writing a book and I only hope that by sharing my experiences I may be able to help others in future. The Japanese judicial system is completely unfair and the penal system barbaric and archaic. The treatment I received is still being dished out to all prisoners in Japan and particularly severely to foreigners. I'd like to finish by thanking you for all your support and to bring your attention to the plight of Nick Baker and Chris Snell, UK Nationals who are suffering exactly the same type of injustices and struggling to stay safe and well right now in other Japanese hell holes. Both have web sites so please try and access them and offer your support as they will truly need it."