Overview
- The lay-judge trial at Nara District Court continued on Nov. 19 as the defendant’s sister took the stand.
- She testified their mother joined the World Peace and Unification Family Federation and donated about ¥100 million, with roughly ¥50 million later refunded in installments.
- She described repeated pleas for money from their mother, including urgent requests to cover several months of rent and episodes of being physically clung to.
- She said the mother repeatedly traveled to South Korea, where the organization’s headquarters are located.
- She told the court she did not find it strange that Abe was targeted, citing a house magazine with him on the cover in their mother’s room, and said Tetsuya acted out of despair.