Shinzo Abe murder suspect to undergo mental exam

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Jul 2022 13:44

The suspect in the murder of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination.

Abe murder suspect to undergo mental exam: reports

The man accused of assassinating Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will have his mental state examined around the time of the incident, according to local media.

Tetsuya Yamagami, the accused killer, is in custody and allegedly targeted Abe because he suspected the former leader was affiliated with the Unification Church which the suspect's mother joined and paid substantial sums for, going bankrupt and wrecking her family in the process.

According to the Asahi Shimbun and other local media, the Nara District Court approved a request by the local public prosecutor's office for a psychiatric examination of 41-year-old Yamagami on Friday, citing unnamed investigative sources.

The investigation should be completed by late November, according to reports.

The suspect's interrogation will be halted during the mental examination.

According to reports, prosecutors will decide whether Yamagami can face criminal charges based on the examination before deciding whether to indict him.

Here's how the world reacted to the shocking assassination of the former Japanese PM #ShinzoAbe.#Japan pic.twitter.com/xQtWmmuNTq
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Abe was Japan's most well-known politician, and he retained a prominent position in public life even after resigning for health reasons in 2020.

He was also a divisive figure who was accused of cronyism and was chastised for his staunch nationalist views. The prosecution and court officials could not be reached immediately to confirm the local media reports.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died on July 8 after being shot while giving a speech in Nara, according to Japanese media. He was unconscious and bleeding from the chest when he was admitted to the hospital.

The suspect in the attack on Abe, who was giving a speech in front of Yamato Saidaiji Station two days ahead of the Japanese Upper House elections when he was shot at 11h30 am, was apprehended on the spot.