Overview

• At a Sept. 29 briefing, Chief Hideyuki Fukuda apologized, saying the misconduct severely damaged trust in police activities.
• Criminal Affairs Director Katsuma Higuchi attributed the yearslong lapse to weaknesses in internal checks at the forensic laboratory.
• New measures include supervisor attendance at every analysis stage, added research staff, and multi-person verification of results.
• The department said its review found no effect on investigations or trials and stated it sees no need for an external review panel.
• The Saga Bar Association continues to press for a third-party re-examination, while the Prefectural Public Safety Commission pledged ongoing guidance after receiving 11 detailed reports.