Japanese prosecutors on Tuesday requested an 18‑month prison sentence for a former Japan Ground Self‑Defense Force officer accused of forcibly entering the Chinese embassy in Tokyo in March carrying a knife.
The request follows the officer’s alleged security breach, as reported by Kyodo News, and was filed by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office after an investigation that uncovered surveillance footage and eyewitness testimony indicating the officer entered the embassy compound without authorization.
According to Xinhua, the prosecutor’s office cited the officer’s use of a knife during the intrusion as a aggravating factor, arguing that the act constituted a serious violation of diplomatic security protocols. The prosecutor’s request includes a plea for the court to impose a custodial sentence to deter future similar offenses.
The defense has not yet released a statement regarding the prosecutor’s request, and no appeals have been filed by the accused. The case is set to proceed to trial later this month, with the court expected to weigh the severity of the intrusion and the officer’s prior military record.