Japan’s Supreme Court has moved to initiate dismissal proceedings against a summary court judge who was indicted over alleged habitual online gambling activity involving offshore casino websites.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Supreme Court said it had requested that the relevant parliamentary impeachment commission file a petition with the Judge Impeachment Court seeking the removal of Akifumi Morimoto, a 52-year-old judge serving at Niigata Summary Court.
The Supreme Court stated that Morimoto’s conduct “amounted to a delinquency undermining the dignity of judges.” According to prosecutors, Morimoto allegedly accessed an online casino platform more than 60,000 times using his smartphone and tablet, and participated in gambling activities including baccarat between April and September 2023 while residing in Akita Prefecture.
The Akita District Public Prosecutors Office indicted Morimoto without arrest on 17 April. Japanese media reports said Morimoto has admitted to the allegations and expressed remorse, according to the Supreme Court.
If the parliamentary commission proceeds with the petition, the case will be reviewed by the Judge Impeachment Court, which will determine whether Morimoto should be formally dismissed from the judiciary.
