Firsthand Report from R’ Aron Nezri:

At the Chiba district court, the closing arguments, being the final hearing for the third boy, Yoel Zev, began at 10am local time.

Yoel Zev was brought in at 9:55 accompanied by two guards and was seated on a bench in front of the defence teams table.
In order that Yoel Zev should understand the proceedings, an earpiece that is connected to the court appointed interpreter microphone, was placed on Yoel Zev.

The judges walked into the court room and bowed down, as is in Japanese custom.

The presiding judge first announced that the court rejects the recent evidence being the expert opinion by a graphologist – a handwriting expert, that determines that Miss Suzuki’s recent evidence has been forged.

One change in the room was, having a new minor judge and a new prosecutor.  The new minor judge who has never worked as judge before and is very young has now replaced the last minor judge of the three previous judges, led by presiding judge Furuta, a hardliner that has never acquitted someone  before.
Yoel Zev quoted after the trial, that last year chol hamoed succos, he attended one of his pre-trials and was given the arba minim after the hearing and with the permission of the judge, he made a brocho loud and was shaking it in fron of the old panel of judges. He now says “Ich hob geshokeled in geshokeled and they have all disappeared”.

The proceedings began at 10:05 with the prosecutor starting to read out his closing arguments.
It was 10:32 when the prosecutor concluded that due to Yoel being older in age and wasn’t a minor when he entered Japan, he deserves a longer punishment and a heavy fine – a 15 year prison sentence and a 5 million yen fine ($62,000).

Upon hearing this, yoel stayed calm and the chief defence lawyer Mr Miyake stood up and started his part of the defences closing argument, followed by Mr Nakamura and Mr Takano. At 12:55 Mr Takano concluded and Mr Miyake stood in front of the judges and gave his final words to the judge in relation to Yoel Goldsteins suffering and innocence.
When the procedure was concluded, the judge asked Yoel to stand up and asked him if he wants to say something to the court, being his last opportunity. He replied yes, and asked the judge allowed him to sit down rather then stand as all defendants do.

Yoel started by saying;
“Honourable judge, I have been observing the biblical orders from my Almighty since I was born. I have prayed at least three times a day since my childhood. I have always been an honest, studious, hard-working and good person.

I spent most of my spare time in hospitals, to assist, and bring joy to sick and elderly patients.

I have never hurt anyone in my life. I would never do something that could cause a person pain, illness or death.

It was my duty, great honor and pleasure to study the Jewish law in Israel and I continued to study the same even in the small cell of Chiba Detention Center in Japan.

In CDC I have been deprived of Kosher food as strictly prescribed by the Jewish law. This has harmed my physically and emotional health.

Sometimes I wonder why I have unjustly been kept in a small cell for more than three years.

I always concluded that the Almighty ordered this hardship upon me, and it is my obligation to pray for His salvation according to the Jewish heritage and to accept what the Almighty has decreed upon me.

As the honourable judges are aware, I innocently trusted a member of my community. I am still shocked how can people be so wicked?

The Judge surely believes me. I am not saying lies. I am speaking from my heart.

I have testified truthfully to the court, exactly according to my memory and have not hidden anything. I therefore have no fear and I am confident that the Judge will see my innocence.

I would like to thank to the court for hearing my case thoroughly and carefully. – Speech ends.

The judge set the verdict day for 29th August and apologised to Yoel Zev for having to keep him longer in detention! This is not the first time that the presiding judge apologises.

Present at the trial were Yoel Zev’s brother in law, Dayan Weis, Aron Nezri, Meilech Bindinger and a few other volunteers who came to give support.

After the hearing I visited Yoel Zev at the detention centre and he was in very good spirits. He said that he was not shocked to hear that the prosecutor demands a 15 year sentence and continues to rely on H-shem and on the tefilos of klal yisroel.

Both, Yoel and Yakov Yosef were visited after the hearing, by Meilech Bindinger,  myself, Dayan Weis and the few other visitors who came to show support.

I arrived a day earlier to finalise with the lawyers the closing arguments and to help Yoel prepare his final speech to the judges. I as well met both boys before the final lawyers meeting.

Yakov Yosef told me that he already sent out all his seforim and belongings so that on the verdict date he won’t have to come back to the detention centre to collect his belongings and can go straight to the immigration to get ready to go home. He as well told the guards that he is leaving on Monday and thanked them for their good treatment and assistance.

Yakov Yosef’s verdict will be held on this coming Monday at 2pm local time, 6am UK time, 1am US time.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CLICK HERE TO BE MEKAYEM PIDYON SHIVUYIM IN ASSISTING THE BOCHRIM STILL IN JAPAN PRISON!!

The tzibur is requested to continue being Mispallel for Yoel Zev ben Mirel Reesa Chava and Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)